Two Major Labor Federations Oppose 'Consolidation and Relocation of Public Institutions,' Vow 'Struggle Against Government'

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the country's two major labor federations, have launched an all-out struggle against the government's policies to consolidate public institutions and relocate them to provincial areas.

Participants chant slogans at a rally by public-sector workers affiliated with the country's two major labor federations near the Dongsipjagak intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 9. The two federations called on the government to reject plans to consolidate public institutions and relocate them outside the capital region, and urged it to establish a public-sector wage committee. 2026.10.9

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The Joint Response Committee of Public-Sector Trade Unions from the two major labor federations held a rally titled “Public-Sector Workers’ Resolution for an All-Out Struggle” near Dongsipjagak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of Oct. 9. Members of public-sector unions affiliated with both federations gathered, including the FKTU’s Public Service Workers’ Union, Financial Industry Trade Union and Public Services Union Federation, as well as the KCTU’s Public Transport and Social Services Workers’ Union and Korean Health and Medical Workers’ Union.

Kim Dong-myung, president of the FKTU, criticized the government’s policies to restructure and relocate public institutions, saying they “will reduce the institutions’ core functions and weaken public services” and “ultimately undermine public values and leave workers facing serious employment insecurity.”

Yang Kyung-soo, president of the KCTU, also said, “If relocating public institutions to provincial areas is truly effective, we should first examine whether the institutions that have already moved have helped prevent regional decline.”

Participants at the rally chanted slogans including “Public-sector workers reject unilateral and hastily prepared public policies” and “Expand public-sector jobs to address the labor shortages being ignored,” showing their determination to fight.

The government has announced that it plans to reveal the public institutions and regions targeted for relocation in the fourth quarter of this year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.