UK KFA Picket of South Korean Puppet Embassy

This month will see the the 30th anniversary of the brutal putting down of the uprising of the citizens of the city of Kwangju in south Korea.The citizens of Kwangju rose up against martial law which had been imposed by the south Korean puppet dicatatorship of Chun Do Hwan,Chun having come to power after a military coup and the assasination of the preceding south
Korean fascist dictator Park Chung Hee.After the citizens of Kwangju rose the south Korean regime sent paratroops and special forces to the city with the permission of the US(also US warships and troops were put on standby).Over 2,000 people were slaughtered and thousands injured.

To mark this grim anniversary and to remind people of the fascist nature of the south Korean regime UK KFA will be holding a picket of the South Korean embassy on May
21st.
PICKET
DETAILS
PLACE-South Korean Embassy 60 Buckingham Gate Victoria London SW1
TIME 12-30 -4-3OPM
contact zabolsh@yahoo.co.uk or uk@korea-dpr.com for further details

Kwangju Uprising Unfinished



In May of 1980, 30 years ago, a citizen’s uprising took place in Gwangju against the Chun Doo-hwan military fascist rule.

The uprisers assaulted the puppet police stations and arsenals of the local defense force to take a lot of weapons.

They formed the “civilian force”, “special caution unit” and “shock troop” and undauntedly fought in defiance of the frenzied armed attack of the “martial law troops”, and controlled Gwangju City for 10 days.

Much astounded by the uprisers’ struggle the US imperialists and the Chun clique mobilized more than 70,000 troops drunken with hallucinogen and tremendous equipment including tanks, guns, aircrafts to the suppression of the uprisers, prattling that “it is alright to kill even 70% of the Gwangju citizens”.

The blood-thirsty man-killers committed the shuddering massacre by indiscriminately stabbing, hanging, burying alive, burning to death the workers, peasants, youth and students, religionists, women and the old who cried for freedom and desired for democracy, and trampling them down by tanks and armored vehicles.

As a result, more than 5,000 innocent people were killed and over 14,000 were injured in Gwangju and the city of resistance was reduced to a “city of death” and “blood bath”.

Though it was frustrated by the atrocious armed suppression of the US imperialists and the military fascist clique the Gwangju Uprising was an anti-US anti-fascist patriotic mass struggle which dealt a telling blow to the US colonial rule.

It was a heroic event that demonstrated the indomitable fighting will of the south Korean people and a historical watershed which brought about a turnaround for anti-US independence.

However, the desire of the uprisers has not yet been realized though 30 years have passed since then.

The US imperialists and its puppets, the murderous group who turned the whole of Kwangju to a sea of blood, are still reigning supreme and the fascist evil laws and repressive bodies like the “National Security Law” and the “National Intelligence Service” randomly violate the people's democracy and human rights.

The tyranny and arbitrariness of the US, chieftain of aggression, plunder and massacre, get further increased day after day and the present conservative group licks the jackboots of the US while viciously suppressing the people.

The reality calls on the south Korean people to the struggle for anti-US independence, anti-fascist democracy and national reunification.

The Kwangju uprising is not yet finished.

The south Korean people will continue their vigorous struggle to bring about a new democratic country without foreign forces and fascist dictatorship, and the reunified country by inheriting the spirit of the Gwangju uprisers.

South Korean People Suffer From Poverty and Agony

South Korean People Suffer From Poverty and Agony

Though the south Korean government tries tooth and claw to win over the people's mindset crying for the “grassroots-friendly policy”, it is no more than a deception and the people's livelihood is getting worse.

The figures and facts bellow graphically show the reality of their wretched livelihood.

- Destitute Bracket

Even according to the data released officially by the puppet regime the destitute bracket in south Korea numbers 5.85 million as of September 2009.

Taking into consideration the fact that 200,000~300,000 independent businessmen who eke out relying on small stores and stands go bankrupt recently every month, the destitute bracket is continually increasing.

- The Jobless

As of October 2009 the officially unemployed number 799,000 (8.6% increase compared to that of October 2008), according the official data of the puppet regime.

However, the actual jobless amount to 2.94 million if adding those who gave up the job-seeking.

If 3.78 million workers who are temporarily employed or barely living alive, the jobless number over 6.72 million.

Owing to the economic crisis the unemployment rate of the young people, in particular, are increased by 7.6% (6.6% in 2008) and one of ten women employees lost the job.

Besides, as many as 8 million part-timers and 5.74 million independent businessmen are overcome by fear of dismissal and bankruptcy that would befall to them at any time.

- Household Income and Debt

As of late October 2009, the average monthly income of households decreased by 3.3% as against that of 2008, recording the highest decrease since 2003.

Meantime, their average monthly debt increased 1.4 times their income or 4 times more than that of the 1998 foreign currency crisis.

- Consumer Prices

The rate of common price hike between January and September of 2009 was 2.8% on the average but the foodstuffs prices which directly affect the people's living rose by 4~10% at the same period.

- Tax and Other Burdens

The tax per capita in 2009 amounted to 4.34 million Won on the average and is expected to increase by 4.4% this year.

In addition, the individual burdens including pension and insurance dues from their income amount 5.599 million Won in 2009 and would increase by 6.4% this year.

- Education

A family in south Korea should pay 232 million Won of money for bringing up a child from the cradle to university graduation, and this figure is 16.8% more than that of 2003.

It takes some 157,000 US$ from the cradle to middle school graduation, and over 54,000 US$ for 4-year university graduation (13,500 US$ annually).

- Health Care

With the new influenza raging throughout south Korea last year, the price of cold medicine rose by 16.9%, vitamin complex by 16.4% and outpatient medical treatment by 7.2%, imposing a heavy burden on the people.

As a result, 1,500 persons were infected with the new influenza on the daily average in mid October 2009, but the number went up to over 10,000 in November and 117 persons died till late November last year, so many people were seized with terrible fear.

- Housing

Families without their own house are as many as 7 million in south Korea and 10% of them, not affording to pay the rented house, lead an inhuman life in shanties, vinyl houses and dugouts.

In regards to housing price, an 80m²-space flat of the “nest dwelling” which is offered recently by the conservative regime by reducing the price by half as compared with that of the surrounding areas is 280 million Won, so the “lifetime desire for my own house” is still faraway dream.

- Social Evils

For 5 years since 2004 the 5 major crimes such as murder, robbery, rape, larceny, and violence increased by 90,000 cases; rape and robbery increased by 30%, violence by 6.3% and murder 2.3%.

In particular, 135,000 juvenile criminals (less than 20 years old) were apprehended in 2008, and crimes by the young people drastically increased and their method got further atrocious.

Meanwhile, the suicide rate caused by difficulty of job-seeking, hardships of living and various diseases increases by 13% every year. 12,858 persons committed suicide in 2008, or two times as many as that of 2001.

More recently an American newspaper reported that at present suicide in south Korea numbers 26 among every 100,000 population and this rate is 2.5 times more than that of the US and bigger than that of Japan.

The elder suicides (more than 61 years old) increased 5 times more than that of 1989 and the portion of the elder among all the suicides increased 3 times, too.

These facts go to plainly show that the present conservative group is a corrupt and incompetent group which only pursues anti-popular and pro-conglomerate policy disregarding the people's right to existence.

White Paper Released on S. Korean Human Rights Abuses

White Paper Released on S. Korean Human Rights Abuses

Pyongyang, April 29 (KCNA) -- The National Reunification Institute released a white paper Thursday indicting the fascist clique for having reduced south Korea to the land with the worst human rights record through sycophancy and treachery, fascist dictatorship and confrontation with fellow countrymen. The white paper said: It is the most hideous human rights abuses committed by the fascist clique that it forced south Koreans to fall victim to outsiders' domination and war policies and wantonly violated their human rights. The U.S. imperialist aggression forces' more than six decade-long presence in south Korea is the crime-woven history with aggression, war, massacre, plunder and human rights abuses. The results of "the inspection of state administration" submitted to the puppet National Assembly disclosed that the U.S. imperialist aggression troops in south Korea committed hundreds of crimes of all forms on an annual average and such high-profile crimes as murder, robbery, rape and blow accounted for 60 percent of them. The U.S. imperialist aggression forces occupy vast areas extending more than 73.2 million phyong in over 100 regions of south Korea at present. If the areas around their bases are polluted, they move to other areas, grabbing a large area of land and turning it barren. The puppet group of traitors imported American beef seriously harming the health and life security of south Koreans and touching off outcries among them. This is the hideous human rights abuse of special mention. The group introduced to south Korea more than 1,000 U.S. nukes enough to destroy the Korean nation dozens or hundreds of times. It, however, has persistently taken issue with the DPRK's nuclear deterrent, while zealously shielding and conniving at the U.S. nukes which may inflict a nuclear holocaust upon the fellow countrymen. It is also staging together with the U.S. the dangerous nuclear war exercises against the fellow countrymen in a bid to force Koreans to fall victim to a nuclear war to be launched by its master. It is, at the same time, hurling young and middle-aged Koreans to the shambles of wars of aggression being waged by the U.S. in different parts of the world, forcing them to meet grievous deaths. It is another hideous human rights abuse committed by the puppet group that it revived fascist dictatorship and turned south Korea into a tundra of human rights where democracy is cruelly violated. Talking about "the lost decade", the group trampled down even sprouts of democracy won in the days of the preceding regime and drastically reinforced repressive machines and comprehensively revived all kinds of fascist laws and systems. There occurred unprecedented tragic incidents last year in which the two former "presidents" met unnatural deaths due to the fascist authorities' despicable politically-motivated harassment and retaliation. This clearly indicates what a deplorable phase the human rights performance has reached in south Korea. The number of the political parties and organizations that were labeled "illegal organizations" by the authorities since the conservative group's seizure of power reached more than 1 840. Politically-motivated investigation and surveillances are openly carried out and crackdown upon media is throwing people into consternation. The south Koreans' freedom of assembly, demonstration and association are ruthlessly violated and torture, violence and inhuman insults are rampant. The cases of human rights abuses committed by prosecution and police and in prisons, etc. numbered more than 3,490 out of over 5,000 cases reported to the puppet Human Rights Committee in 2008, accounting for nearly 70 percent of all reported cases. After its seizure of power the puppet group adopted anti-reunification and confrontation with fellow countrymen as a policy toward the DPRK and totally violated the north-south joint declarations reflecting the unanimous wishes of all Koreans. It has stepped up the moves for a nuclear war against the DPRK and kicked up smear human rights campaigns, pushing the north-south relations to a catastrophe. This only brought into bolder relief its true colors as a heinous human rights abuser. It is busy whipping together all types of human scum and riff-raffs in a bid to escalate confrontation with the DPRK and false propaganda against it. The group is getting frantic with the operations to lure and kidnap compatriots. Any activities for relations with the north and for reunification are labeled "enemy-benefiting ones" and suppressed and dialogue, contacts and cooperation between people of all strata and NGOs of the north and the south have been blocked since the puppet group came to power. The puppet conservative group will never be allowed to go scot-free for committing such human rights abuses as turning south Korea into the worst tundra of human rights but will certainly face a stern punishment by the nation.

S. Korean Puppet Authorities' Moves to Suppress Labor Movement Flailed

S. Korean Puppet Authorities' Moves to Suppress Labor Movement Flailed

Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in Seoul on Dec. 28 at which it denounced the puppet authorities for their moves to suppress the labor movement, according to the south Korean KBS. The organization charged at the press conference that the authorities' moves to pass a "draft amendment to the law on trade unions" which calls for disallowing the payment of wages to the full- time trade union leaders, etc. are aimed at suppressing the workers' rights and holding in check the trade union activities, demanding the authorities immediately stop such action. The organization warned that if the authorities enforce such anti-workers law defying their protest, it will call a general strike at once.

Struggle of Unionists for Right to Existence

Struggle of Unionists for Right to Existence

More than 16,000 railway unionists of south Korea launched an indefinite strike for the right to existence on November 26.

The Korean Rail Workers’ Union which had held several rounds of negotiations with the managements for the restoration of the dismissed workers, wage hike and other issues began the strike after the Railway Corporation totally rejected their demands and annulled the agreements with the union.

In solidarity with them many local headquarters in Seoul, Busan, Daejeon, Suncheon, Youngju and other areas conducted full-scale struggle, thus the struggle of the railway unionists spread across south Korea.

The strikers exposed that the Railway Corporation resorted to illegal actions such as appeasing the workers not to take part in the strike, stating that the current struggle is the eruption of the indignation toward the managements who rendered the agreements gained by the workers’ blood, sweat and sacrifice dead-paper, and a struggle to defend the union from all sorts of unreasonable suppression.

They demonstrated their will of struggle chanting slogans such as “Stop the business restructuring!”, “Implement the labor-management agreements!”, “The railway to the people!” and “We will never give up to the suppression”.

On November 28 over 12,000 unionists affiliated with the Public Transportation League of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the public sectors league of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions held in Seoul a solidarity rally to demand the authorities repeal the anti-worker policy.

Prior to that, the Kyeonggnam headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally in Changweon for securing the basic rights of workers, frustrating the dismissal and opposing the legislation for privatizing medical service.

The south Korean authorities mercilessly suppress the righteous struggle of the workers for defending the rights of labor and existence by mobilizing security forces, branding it as “illegal” far from accepting their just demands.

Though the regime often publicized that it pursues the policy for ordinary people, it has done nothing but pro-business policy only for a handful of the conglomerates.

From the outset of the current regime the number of the unemployed is on steady increase and the wage of those who hardly keep their job is incessantly falling, triggering a great anger among different social strata.

All the facts show that the anti-people nature of the regime can never change.

The south Korean workers should vigorously wage the struggle to gain their rights and interests, never harboring

KCTU Launches Anti-"government" Struggle

KCTU Launches Anti-"government" Struggle

Pyongyang, December 11 (KCNA) -- The south Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) kicked off an anti-"government" struggle across south Korea on Dec. 8 in protest against the suppression of the labor movement. The organization held a rally in Seoul for "denouncing the collusion behind the closed doors, defending democratic unions and forcing the regime step down". Participants in the rally accused the south Korean Ministry of Labor, the Federation of south Korean Trade Unions and the "General Association of Korean Businessmen" of "agreeing" on Dec. 4 on the "amendment to the Law on Trade Unions" the keynote of which calls for banning the payment of wages to full-time officials of trade unions, etc. They charged that their collusion was aimed to trample down upon the rights of workers and block the activities of trade unions. They declared trade unions in various fields under the KCTU would launch anti- "government" actions one after another with the rally as a prelude. They also stated that they would simultaneously hold mass rallies across south Korea on Dec. 19, in particular, in an effort to escalate their actions. The regional headquarters of the KCTU in different areas such as Taegu, Pusan and Ulsan launched sit-in strikes in protest against the authorities' moves to crack down upon the labor movement on the same day.

Corruptness of South Korean Society

Corruptness of South Korean Society

South Korea is a mammonish society where money and power are almighty, a society where the law of the jungle prevails, and a decadent society where all sorts of crimes such as swindle and fraud, killing and robbery, and human traffic are rampant.

- Uninterrupted Crimes

In 2008 1,966,000 cases of different crimes were committed in south Korea, 7.6% more than that of the previous year.

In 2008 the murder increased by 5.6%, robbery by 8.3%, sex violence by 4.1%, assault and other crimes of violence by 32.7%, and in particular the number of the young criminals of violence by 15.4% in comparison with 2007.

More than 1.54 million cases of living-related crimes occurred in 2008, among which the larcenies increased by 11.3% and the fraud and criminal negligence by more than 30% as compared with that of 2007.

In 2008 49,631 cases of arson were committed (3.7% more than 47,882 cases of 2007).

81.2% of them were deliberate crimes and arsons by young people increased by 65.5%.

- Employment Crisis

At present the completely unemployed are 3.77 million and 5,200 jobs are reduced every day. Jobless people will increase more than those in the period of the financial crisis in 1997 owing to the mass dismissal by the business “restructuring”.

Now in south Korea one fourth of the population are unemployed or underemployed.

2.6 million families have householders with no job and even the employed are suffering from the phobia about unemployment.

Owing to the anti-people policy of the treacherous Lee Myung-bak regime, deteriorating economy and rampant social ills, the people's living fall into misery more and more and various crimes prevail.

This is the reality of south Korea today.