South Korea celebrates May Day

By Michael Chong

South Korean workers and students celebrated May Day this year for the first time in 35 years. Until now, any ceremonies relating to May Day were legally banned.

In the Seoul region, a May Day ceremony was held in Yon-Sae University, followed by a march to Parliament House. The event was attended by more than 25,000 people, including non-union members.

May Day was also celebrated nationwide by 1075 different trade unions with marches and various activities.

In a press conference on the day, Park Jong Gen, the president of the Korean Trade Union Council, announced a new program linking the union movement with the public in a campaign for economic and social reform to overcome distorted distribution of wealth and to increase the rights of the workers.

Legalisation of May Day celebrations holds special meaning for the union movement because this means that the authorities finally recognise the unions as a genuine mainstream social movement rather than a subversive one. The magnitude of the celebration shows the general public's recognition of the importance that union struggle holds for the Korean nation as a whole.

This changed attitude came about with the election of the new government led by President Kim Young Sam, whose election promises included a radical social, economic and political reform. Since the election there have been several major inquiries concerning political and military corruption.

However this is the government endorsed by its repressive predecessor. How far it will go in breaking with the past is still an unanswered question.

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