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By Terry Park/Staff Reporter
parkterry@hotmail.com

Seoul, Korea--The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the second-largest national umbrella of labor unions, organized a May Day mass rally at Yeoido Park in downtown Seoul. Over 11,000 workers, NGO activists, students, and supporters brought colorful banners, flags, and their families to sing traditional labor and social movement songs, listen to impassioned speeches, and finally march towards a square next to Shingil subway station. Other rallies organized by KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) were held in nine cities across the nation.

On the heels of the completion of the General Motors takeover of Daewoo Motors and the failed electric workers strike and the subsequent resignation of the KCTU leadership, this year's May Day rally saw lower numbers and a dampened spirit. But speakers and participants stressed pressing issues, such as the five-day workweek and the continuing migrant worker's struggle for legalization. In addition, there were a number of placards proclaiming solidarity with Palestinian resistance to Israeli encroachment, and a whole host of civil rights issues such as disability rights were voiced. One anarchist stripped naked and ran past walking marchers to protest compulsory military service in South Korea. "When we join the military, we are forced to strip naked, and our body parts our measured and graded. It's a humiliating process," stated "Dope," a fellow anarchist.

Traffic was blocked for miles as marchers took over the streets on their way to Shingil station. They passed the KCTU headquarters, where two activists unfurled large white KCTU flags and waved them as passer-bys cheered them on.