Latest news with #KoreanConfederationofTradeUnions
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Kim Young-hoon: Former KCTU head to lead Labor Ministry
President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Kim Young-hoon, a former head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, as minister of employment and labor. Born in 1968 in Busan, Kim currently works as a locomotive engineer at Korea Railroad Corporation and serves as a public member of the Busan Regional Labor Relations Commission. He previously led the Korean Railway Workers' Union and the Justice Party's labor division. He is expected to play a central role in advancing workers' rights, including reducing industrial accidents, revising the "Yellow Envelope Law," and introducing a 4.5-day workweek. Lee's office said Kim was chosen for his ability to 'break from the previous administration's repressive labor stance' and 'strengthen protections for working people.'
Asahi Shimbun
02-05-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
South Korea's acting president says to ensure stability until election
Several workers from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) attend a May Day rally in Seoul on May 1. (REUTERS) SEOUL--South Korea's third acting president in five months Lee Ju-ho said on Friday he will ensure stable government ahead of a June 3 presidential election, following the quick-fire resignations of the prime minister and finance minister. Hours earlier, Education Minister Lee took over as acting leader, thrusting him into the job of shepherding Asia's fourth-largest economy through the political turmoil triggered by a martial law attempt last year by ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and the impact of sweeping U.S. tariffs. Lee pledged to work closely with the cabinet and opposition-led parliament which impeached Yoon in December, and to try to stabilize the government. 'I will try my best to ensure government functions are managed stably,' he told reporters. Lee later chaired an unscheduled National Security Council meeting and called for a posture of 'unwavering readiness' in case of possible aggression from neighboring North Korea. Financial markets were preparing for further uncertainty in early trading as authorities vowed to quell any immediate fallout from the resignations of key policymakers, pledging to minimize the impact and maintain round-the-clock monitoring. The South Korean won weakened as much as 0.8% to 1,438.5 per dollar in early trade, its biggest loss since March 19, while the benchmark KOSPI stock index slipped 0.3%. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been serving as acting president before stepping down a day earlier, announced his entry into the presidential race on Friday, hoping to leverage his higher profile after a spell in the leadership role. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok had been set to assume the position of acting president by law before a snap election on June 3 to elect a new leader, but he abruptly quit just before midnight on Thursday. Choi, who has played a leading role in the response to U.S. tariffs, apologised in a statement for not being able to continue his work while the country faces severe economic conditions at home and abroad. The finance minister resigned just before midnight on Thursday as parliament was voting to impeach him over his earlier refusal as acting president to appoint a Constitutional Court judge. The resignation raises questions about the oversight of South Korea's discussions with Washington on looming new tariffs. South Korea's central bank cautioned that U.S. tariffs added to the uncertainty over the path of the inflation rate, which it said was expected to remain around 2% for the time being. The Asian country, which had been considered one of the most powerful success stories of democratic resilience, has faced months of political turmoil since Yoon's ill-fated attempt to declare martial law late last year. Adding to the precarity, a court ruling on Thursday cast doubt on the liberal election frontrunner Lee Jae-myung's eligibility to run for the presidency. The Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling that had cleared Lee, saying he had violated election law by publicly making 'false statements' during his 2022 presidential bid. It sent the case back to the appeals court and ordered it to issue a new sentence, which could bar Lee from running for office for up to five years. In addition, the candidacy of Han Duck-soo, the former prime minister, has the potential to impact the conservative People Power Party's chance of retaining the presidency, potentially splitting a field that polls show is already far behind Lee. A Gallup Korea survey on April 25 showed that Lee Jae-myung was the favorite to win next month's election with 38%, while former head of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) Han Dong-hoon had 8% and Han Duck-soo was on 6%.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Int'l Labour Day: Huge rally in S. Korea with calls to increase workers' pay
South Korean workers rallied in central Seoul on Thursday (May 1) to mark International Workers' Day, calling for stronger labour rights. The rally, led by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), drew participants who waved flags, held placards, and chanted slogans. Watch here.
Toronto Sun
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
From Tokyo to Los Angeles, Trump's policies loom over May Day marches
Published May 01, 2025 • 3 minute read Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions gather to attend a rally on May Day in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, May 1, 2025. The letters read "Let's win basic labor rights." Photo by Ahn Young-joon / AP TOKYO (AP) — From Tokyo to Taipei to Manila, people across Asia marked May Day with marches and protests that spotlighted growing unease over U.S. President Donald Trump's policies and fears of global economic instability. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. 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Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The holiday, also known as International Workers' Day or Labour Day, honours the struggles and achievements of workers and the labour movement. Rallies are expected across the United States as well, including in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. Across multiple countries, Trump's agenda was cited as a source of concern. In the United States, organizers said their message this year focused on fighting Trump's approach targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity initiatives. In Taiwan, President Lai Ching-te referenced new U.S. tariffs under Trump as he promoted a proposed spending bill aimed at stabilizing the job market and supporting livelihoods. In the Philippines, protest leader Mong Palatino warned that 'tariff wars and policies of Trump' threatened local industries. In Japan, some said his policies hung over the day like a shadow, with one truck in the Tokyo march featuring a doll that resembled Trump. There, participants' demands ranged from higher wages and gender equality to health care, disaster relief, a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'For our children to be able to live with hope, the rights of workers must be recognized,' said Junko Kuramochi, a member of a mothers' group in Tokyo. Tadashi Ito, a union construction worker, said he worried about rising prices for imported raw materials. 'Everybody is fighting over work and so the contracts tend to go where the wages are cheapest,' he said. 'We think peace comes first. And we hope Trump will eradicate conflict and inequalities.' Worries about Trump's tariffs Under overcast skies in Taipei, about 2,500 Taiwanese union members marched from the presidential office, representing sectors from fisheries to telecommunications. Protesters warned that Trump's tariffs could cost jobs. 'This is why we hope that the government can propose plans to protect the rights of laborers,' said union leader Carlos Wang. An autoworkers' union carried a cutout car topped with a photo of Trump. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. President Lai said on Facebook that his government had submitted a 410 billion New Taiwan dollar ($12.8 billion) bill to support industry and stabilize the job market. In Manila, thousands of Filipino workers marched near the presidential palace, where police blocked access with barricades. Protesters demanded higher wages and stronger protections for local jobs and businesses. In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto greeted thousands of workers who cheered him in Jakarta's National Monument Park. 'The government that I lead will work as hard as possible to eliminate poverty from Indonesia,' Subianto told the crowd. About 200,000 Indonesian workers were expected to take part in May Day marches across Southeast Asia's largest economy, according to Said Iqbal, president of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions. They are demanding an end to outsourcing rules, wage raises, and protection for domestic workers and migrant workers abroad, Iqbal said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In Turkey, May Day served as a platform not only for labour rights but for broader calls to uphold democratic values, as demonstrators planned to protest the jailing of Istanbul's opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. His imprisonment in March sparked the country's largest protests in more than a decade, and Thursday's public holiday offered the prospect of renewed anti-government displays. Authorities blocked access to central Istanbul and shut down transit lines. A law association said that more than 200 protesters were arrested before midday near Taksim Square, a symbolic rallying point long closed to May Day gatherings, including lawyers trying to follow the detentions. A big rally planned in LA Los Angeles is expected to host one of the world's largest May Day events this year, and a banner there summarized the day's theme: 'One Struggle, One Fight — Workers Unite!' 'We're bringing the fight to the billionaires and politicians who are trying to divide us with fear and lies. We know the truth — an attack on immigrant workers is an attack on all workers,' April Verrett, president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents 2 million workers, said in a statement. Sunshine Girls Columnists Travel USA Sunshine Girls Editorial Cartoons
