Rallies and demos simultaneously took place in 17 areas including Seoul, Pusan, Kwangju, Taejon, Taegu, Ulsan, Jeju Province of south Korea.

Present at the rally held in Seoul were over 15 000 people including members of the KCTU and those of its affiliated unions, members of the Government Employees' Union and the Teachers Union, those of more than 2 000 civic and public organizations and bereaved families of the ferry Sewol disaster.

Chairman of the KCTU Han Sang Gyun said at the rally that they came out on a strike to fight against the tyranny of the present "government" and capital and rescue the workers and commoners.

He called for carrying on the struggle for putting an end to the regime standing against workers, democracy and people's living, and the corrupt one together with the people of all social strata with the general strike as a momentum.

Speakers said that the "government" termed the general strike "illegal one" but they will continue the anti-"government" struggle until they win their right to existence and right to working.

Resolution on struggle was read at the rally.