SEOUL, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of unionists and activists staged rallies across South Korea Wednesday to oppose free trade negotiations and labor reforms.
Some 66,000 unionized laborers, farmers and teachers held rallies in the country's main cities, protesting against a free trade deal between South Korea and the United States, police officials said.
The rally was mainly joined by the country's militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which began general strikes to protest free trade deals and proposed labor reform legislation.
"As the government ignored our voices and concerns, we have no alternative but to launch a full-fledged general strike," KCTU chief Jo Jun-ho told reporters. "The strike will continue indefinitely until the government gives a sincere response to our demands."
Thousands of unionized teachers, upset at a new evaluation system, also joined the demonstrations, despite the government's promise of a stern response.
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union said about 3,000 union members took one-day paid vacations as part of their efforts to prevent the Education Ministry from legislating a system to allow teachers, students and parents to evaluate other teachers.
