[9] In mid-August, an arrest warrant was issued for Yang Kyung-soo, the president of the KCTU, on the pretext of having violated COVID-19 social distancing requirements.
The KCTU reacted to the arrest by releasing a statement calling it "a declaration of war by the Moon Jae-in government" and vowed to stage a "strong strike.
Among the key demands of the strike would be better working conditions and regularisation for irregular workers, an increase in the minimum wage, and a greater focus on labour rights during the upcoming 2022 South Korean presidential election.
President Moon Jae-in also call for the union to stop the strike, stating that it was instead "a critical time for the entire nation to prepare for daily recovery in November with one mind.
In Seoul, around 12 000 police were deployed to prevent the workers from holding a rally in Gwanghwamun Plaza, additionally blocking nearby metro stations.