SEOUL
Tens of thousands of unionized workers marched across South Korea on Friday to protest against government plans involving a more flexible labor market and reforms to the pension system of public servants.
While the early afternoon saw no major clashes, local news agency Yonhap reported that some scuffles could be expected during rallies later in the day.
The Korean Federation of Trade Unions, an umbrella labor union, was cited as saying that around 260,000 workers participated in the walkout organized at more than 2,800 work places.
The protesters allegedly included 60,000 government employees and 10,000 teachers.
A significantly smaller figure of 34,000 participants was put forward by the country’s Labor Ministry.
The government said the illegal strike would be handled firmly, according to Yonhap, with police saying that union figures would be brought in for business obstruction.
The demonstrations come almost a week after protests following the first-year anniversary of a ferry sinking, that left more than 300 people dead, turned violent as protesters clashed with police in central Seoul. Some sprayed vehicles with graffiti calling for the resignation of President Park Geun-hye.
According to a Gallup Korea poll released last week, Park’s approval rating has slid to 34 percent. Her government has been criticized for its handling of the April 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, concerns about domestic welfare and taxation, as well as bribery allegations that led to Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo offering to resign.
