Police said they will respond firmly if the Labor Day rally on May 1 turns violent.
An official at the Korean National Police Agency said at a regular press briefing on the 27th, "We plan to deploy appropriate police forces and equipment, taking into account the size and location of rallies on Labor Day," and added, "We will respond strictly to serious criminal acts such as assaults on police officers."
With the "the yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers" taking effect and the death of a Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity member at the CU logistics center (BGF Logistics Jinju Center) in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, the labor movement has announced a large-scale rally for Labor Day.
Police have formed a dedicated investigation team in connection with the death of the Cargo Solidarity member and are currently investigating the circumstances of the incident. They are also looking into whether police were lax in managing the rally.
On the 20th, in front of the CU logistics center in Jinju, a Cargo Solidarity member who was blocking a 2.5-ton (t) truck was hit by the vehicle and died. The driver was arrested on the 23rd.
In addition, a Cargo Solidarity member who threatened police officers by saying they would self-harm using a weapon, and another who drove a van at police officers, were also arrested.