Republic of Korea

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Seoul on 3 December to denounce the government's attempts to force thousands of striking truckers back to work following a 16-day strike over minimum wage protections. The Yoon government invoked a never-used 2004 law on 29 November to force the striking truckers back to work or face up to three years of imprisonment or hefty fines. Critics allege that the Yoon administration's work order suppresses protesters' labour rights. The strikes are a continuation of protests held earlier this year in April.

Protests Social Group Equality Freedom of Association and Assembly

Media, experts, and opposition parties have raised concerns over growing press freedom violations by the Yoon Suk-Yeol government over the past month. Some of these moves include barring a major media outlet - Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) - from joining a travelling press pool, as well as the government’s announced funding cuts for 2024 to a popular radio broadcaster - Traffic Broadcasting System (TBS) – amid claims of political bias in its programmes seen as having an unfavourable disposition toward the Yoon-Suk-Yeol administration.

Freedom of Expression

President Yoon Suk-yeoul announced on 6 October that following his campaign pledge, the government will move ahead with abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. While the plan is still subject to approval by the National Assembly, the move threatens to be a major setback for women's rights as they continue to face systematic discrimination. Activists and politicians have furthermore criticized the president for capitalizing on the country's "anti-feminism" movement in mobilizing young men during the 2022 election to fulfil his promise. 

Gender Equality Yoon Suk-yeol

Clemency has been granted to Samsung executive Lee Jae-yong. Previously convicted of bribery and embezzlement, Lee had been directly tied to the corruption scandal that led to the mass protests of 2016 and 2017 and the imprisonment of former President Park Geun-Hye, and still faced further criminal allegations. While justified by the government as necessary to stimulate the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery, the pardon continues a trend of legal forgiveness for convicted chaebol leaders.

Chaebol