The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a general strike on the 27th, demanding that the Constitutional Court set a date for the impeachment ruling of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Ministry of Employment and Labor regards it as an illegal act not protected under labor union laws, calling it a "political strike." As members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions marched through downtown Seoul, traffic congestion became severe in the area.
That afternoon at 3 p.m., the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions gathered at Seoul Station, the Sejong Hotel in Myeong-dong, and in front of the Seoul Employment and Labor Office before beginning a march toward Gwanghwamun. They marched in one or two lanes while chanting slogans such as "Yoon Suk-yeol, step down."
Organizations calling for President Yoon's impeachment also participated in the rally, causing inconvenience for vehicles passing through downtown on a weekday afternoon. According to the Seoul Transportation Information System (TOPIS), around 4 p.m., vehicles in front of Gwanghwamun were moving at a speed of 8 km/h.
As traffic was obstructed, some citizens expressed dissatisfaction toward the protesters. A citizen observing the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' march from a car windows on Saemunan-ro shouted, "How long are you going to hold us up?" A member of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, upon hearing this, replied, "I'm so sorry." According to unofficial police estimates, about 8,000 people participated in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' rally at 5 p.m.
Yang Kyung-soo, Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, claimed from the podium, "The Constitutional Court continues to delay the ruling on Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment until today," adding, "The Constitutional Court has betrayed democracy." He further stated, "Now, the Constitutional Court is not a source of expectation but an object of judgment."
Earlier, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions communicated to its members to conduct a general strike on the 27th and participate in a downtown march rally and the main event. Strikes are taking place not only in Seoul but also in 15 regions across the country. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions plans to hold general strikes every Thursday if the date for President Yoon's impeachment ruling is not set.