Latest news with #YoonSukYeol
Korea Herald
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Umbrella labor group set to begin large-scale strike
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation's largest umbrella labor groups, was set to launch a large-scale strike to demand the government adopt a pro-labor act. As part of the two-day strike, scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday, the 1.2 million-strong KCTU will hold a rally at 3 p.m. in Yeouido, western Seoul, and simultaneously stage rallies in 12 other regions. The KCTU estimated that around 10,000 members will take part in Seoul, with a total of 30,000 expected nationwide. Another large-scale rally and march is planned for Saturday in central Seoul. "This is our determined action to guarantee fundamental labor rights for all workers and resolve social inequality," the KCTU said, urging the Lee Jae Myung government to withdraw what it described as anti-labor policies of the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The union is demanding revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act, also known as the "yellow envelope law," aimed at limiting companies from making claims for damages against legitimate labor union disputes. The legislation passed the National Assembly twice but was vetoed by Yoon amid opposition from business lobbies and the People Power Party. They argued that the bill would make it difficult for employers to file complaints against illegal strikes by their workers and exempt laborers from liability for participating in them. The KCTU also called for substantial labor reforms to protect the labor rights of platform and special-contract workers and to address deepening inequality. (Yonhap)
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
S. Korean medical students to end 17-month boycott
SEOUL: Thousands of medical students are set to return to classrooms after a 17-month boycott, said an industry body yesterday, ending part of a standoff, which also saw junior doctors strike. South Korean healthcare was plunged into chaos early last year when then-president Yoon Suk Yeol moved to sharply increase medical school admissions, citing an urgent need to boost doctor numbers to meet growing demand in a rapidly ageing society. The initiative met fierce protest, prompting junior doctors to walk away from hospitals and medical students to boycott their classrooms, with operations cancelled and service provision disrupted nationwide. The measure was later watered down, and the government eventually offered to scrap it in March this year, after Yoon was impeached over his disastrous declaration of martial law. "Students have agreed to return to school," said a spokesman for the Korean Medical Association yesterday, adding that it was up to each medical school to decide the schedule for student returns. The Korean Medical Students' Association said in an earlier statement the students had reached this decision because a continued boycott "could cause the collapse of the fundamentals of medical systems". Some 8,300 students are expected to return to school, but no specific timeline has been provided. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok welcomed the decision, calling it a "big step forward" in a Facebook post on Sunday, adding that President Lee Jae Myung was deliberating ways to solve the issue. In addition to the student boycott, some 12,000 junior doctors went on strike last year — with the vast majority of them still declining to return to work. The increase in medical school admissions led to a record number of students re-taking the college entrance exam in November in a bid to capitalise on reforms that made it easier to get into coveted majors.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Thousands of South Korean medical students to return to class after 17-month boycott
SEOUL, July 14 — Thousands of South Korean medical students are set to return to classrooms after a 17-month boycott, an industry body told AFP Monday, ending part of a standoff which also saw junior doctors strike. South Korean healthcare was plunged into chaos early last year when then-president Yoon Suk Yeol moved to sharply increase medical school admissions, citing an urgent need to boost doctor numbers to meet growing demand in a rapidly aging society. The initiative met fierce protest, prompting junior doctors to walk away from hospitals and medical students to boycott their classrooms, with operations cancelled and service provision disrupted nationwide. The measure was later watered down, and the government eventually offered to scrap it in March 2025, after Yoon was impeached over his disastrous declaration of martial law. 'Students have agreed to return to school,' a spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association told AFP Monday, adding that it was up to each medical school to decide the schedule for student returns. The Korean Medical Students' Association said in an earlier statement that the students had reached this decision because a continued boycott 'could cause the collapse of the fundamentals of medical systems'. Some 8,300 students are expected to return to school, but no specific timeline has been provided. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok welcomed the decision, calling it a 'big step forward' in a Facebook post Sunday, adding President Lee Jae Myung was deliberating ways to solve the issue. In addition to the student boycott, some 12,000 junior doctors went on strike last year—with the vast majority of them still declining to return to work. Lee — who took office in June after winning snap elections following Yoon's removal from office — had said on the campaign trail he would seek to resolve the medical strike. The increase in medical school admissions led to a record number of students re-taking the college entrance exam in November in a bid to capitalise on reforms that made it easier to get into coveted majors. — AFP
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
South Korea medical students end 17-month class boycott
Some 8,300 students are expected to return to school, but no specific timeline has been provided. - AP file SEOUL: Thousands of South Korean medical students are set to return to classrooms after a 17-month boycott, an industry body told AFP on Monday (July 14), ending part of a standoff which also saw junior doctors strike. South Korean healthcare was plunged into chaos early last year when then-president Yoon Suk Yeol moved to sharply increase medical school admissions, citing an urgent need to boost doctor numbers to meet growing demand in a rapidly aging society. The initiative met fierce protest, prompting junior doctors to walk away from hospitals and medical students to boycott their classrooms, with operations cancelled and service provision disrupted nationwide. The measure was later watered down, and the government eventually offered to scrap it in March 2025, after Yoon was impeached over his disastrous declaration of martial law. "Students have agreed to return to school," a spokesperson for the Korean Medical Association told AFP Monday, adding that it was up to each medical school to decide the schedule for student returns. The Korean Medical Students' Association said in an earlier statement that the students had reached this decision because a continued boycott "could cause the collapse of the fundamentals of medical systems". Some 8,300 students are expected to return to school, but no specific timeline has been provided. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok welcomed the decision, calling it a "big step forward" in a Facebook post Sunday, adding President Lee Jae Myung was deliberating ways to solve the issue. In addition to the student boycott, some 12,000 junior doctors went on strike last year -- with the vast majority of them still declining to return to work. Lee -- who took office in June after winning snap elections following Yoon's removal from office -- had said on the campaign trail he would seek to resolve the medical strike. The increase in medical school admissions led to a record number of students re-taking the college entrance exam in November in a bid to capitalise on reforms that made it easier to get into coveted majors. - AFP
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Drone operations command raided in Yoon's martial law probe
South Korea's special counsel team raided the military's drone operations command Monday as part of its investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations of inciting insurrection. Led by Special Counsel Cho Eung-seok, the raid was part of a broader investigation into whether Yoon orchestrated a drone operation over North Korea in an attempt to fabricate a pretext for declaring martial law on Dec. 3. The special counsel team reportedly seeks evidence that drone units based in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, carried out a mission over Pyongyang in October under the direct orders of Yoon and then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Investigators are also looking into whether the military engaged in a coordinated effort to conceal the operation. Monday's raid marked a sign that the insurrection probe has expanded into treason charges. At the time, North Korea claimed that South Korean drones had entered its airspace and dropped anti-regime leaflets over the capital. It released photos of an uncrewed aircraft, saying it had been recovered after crashing. South Korea's military initially denied the claim, later declining to confirm or deny whether the operation took place. A fire later broke out at the drone command's facility, fueling suspicions of a cover-up. The military said it was a routine incineration of documents unrelated to the case. Investigators are examining whether there were coordinated efforts within the military to conceal the operation, including the destruction or withholding of key records. The drone operations command, launched in 2023 as a joint unit of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, operates under the authority of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Monday's search covered 24 military-related sites, including the Defense Ministry, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Security Office and the Defense Counterintelligence Command.
