Prime Minister Boo-gyeom Kim visited the office of the National Federation of Trade Unions in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 2nd and repeatedly requested the restraint of the national workers' conference scheduled for tomorrow.



However, the Confederation of Trade Unions refused to meet, expressing its will to hold the rally.



Prime Minister Kim visited the KCTU together with Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but turned around without even being able to enter the building.



Prime Minister Kim appealed to the KCTU to refrain from gatherings, saying to Vice Chairman Lee Yang-soo and spokesperson Han Sang-jin of the KCTU, who were waiting for him in front of the building, "It is urgent now. Please help me this time." I did.



However, officials of the KCTU, holding signs with phrases such as 'Guarantee freedom of assembly', blocked Prime Minister Kim Jong-un and refused to meet, saying, "Why are you coming to us to make a picture of the government's failed quarantine?"



Vice-Chairman Lee said, "Isn't there a baseball game or a concert?" and "We know the people's concerns in our own way, and we have the ability and experience to prepare enough."



When Prime Minister Kim asked, "Would you like to disperse as per the report of the rally and do it with less than 50 people?" Vice-Chairman Lee practically rejected Prime Minister Kim's proposal, saying, "Please prepare an assembly where we can gather and have a safe assembly."



In the end, Prime Minister Kim could not meet the Chairman of the KCTU and left after 10 minutes.



Earlier on the 29th of last month, Prime Minister Kim requested refraining from large-scale gatherings at the first meeting with the executive branch of the Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on the 29th of last month.



Prime Minister Kim is scheduled to announce a statement to the public at 2 pm today at the government complex in Seoul, urging strict adherence to quarantine rules in response to the spread of the COVID-19 mutant virus centered in the metropolitan area.



(Photo = Yonhap News)