On the 18th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a rally in downtown Seoul, demanding a significant increase in the minimum wage. As members marched, traffic congestion occurred in the area, and vehicles moved slower than pedestrians.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a rally to "urge the minimum wage increase" in the Gwanghwamun area that afternoon. Starting from 2:15 p.m., some members gathered in front of the Government Seoul Building in Jongno District and marched toward the annex building where the National Planning Commission, which plays the role of the presidential transition committee, is located. After that, participating members gathered at the south side of the Gyeongbokgung National Museum from 2:30 p.m. and marched toward the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu.
They held placards saying, "Dismantle the insurrection force and increase the minimum wage" and "The minimum wage for 2026 should be 11,500 won per hour and 2.4 million won per month." The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) reported that 50,000 people would attend the rally, but only about 1,300 (according to unofficial police estimates) actually gathered.
Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) occupied two lanes of Sajik-ro and Yulgok-ro and marched for about 40 minutes toward the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office from Gwanghwamun. This caused traffic congestion in the area. According to the Seoul Traffic Information System (TOPIS), at around 3 p.m., the vehicle speed on Sajik-ro in front of Gwanghwamun was 2 km/h. Buses passing through this road were unable to move forward at all for about 10 minutes until the rally participants finished their march.
Yang Kyung-su, Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), took the stage in front of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office and said, "The minimum wage is a product of the democratization struggle" and that "now, after ousting Yoon Suk-yeol, is the time for the minimum wage to establish itself as a guarantee for workers' survival." He continued, "It is said that Korea's food and beverage prices are the second highest among OECD countries, after Switzerland," and urged everyone to fight vigorously to achieve a significant increase.
The labor and management sectors are discussing the level of the minimum wage for next year at the Minimum Wage Commission. The labor sector presented an initial demand of 11,500 won per hour, which is a 14.7% increase from this year's wage (10,030 won per hour). Converted to a monthly basis, it amounts to 2,403,500 won (based on 209 hours worked per month). The management sector has not yet provided its initial demand.