30,000 South Korean workers and citizens, 

march for climate justice in Seoul

- More than 600 organizations and 2,500 people organized the march. 

- They protested against the government that is irresponsible in responding to the climate crisis and turns a blind eye to climate injustice. 

- They demanded an end to nuclear and fossil fuel, a just transition, expanded public transportation, and condemned destruction of the ecosystem.

• On September 23, more than 30,000 workers and citizens held a large-scale march on Sejong-ro in Seoul, South Korea, to demand equal and dignified life for all in the era of climate disaster. Through pre-event activities (booths, open mic, etc.) from 12:00 p.m. and the rally and march from 2:00 p.m., participants strongly criticized the regression of the current Yoon Seok-yeol government's climate policy and demanded "accountability for climate disasters," "suspension of nuclear power generation," "just transition from fossil fuels," "expansion of public transportation," and "suspension of ecologically destructive projects."

• The march is the culmination of a popular climate movement in South Korea that has been in full swing since 2019. Last year (2022), the Climate Justice March was held in Seoul on September 24 with more than 30,000 participants. This year's 923 Climate Justice March is a strong voice of criticism against the regressive climate policies and deepening inequality in all sectors of society under the Yoon administration over the past year. It also called for the need to overcome the capitalist socioeconomic system centered on growth and profit that is causing the climate crisis. The event was part of a series of global actions for climate that have been held every September since 2019 around the time of the United Nations General Assembly.

• The march carried the slogan "People Power to Overcome the Crisis!" and demanded five main points and 14 specific points to the government that should be prioritized at this time. The five main demands of the march were: ensure everyone's right to live with safety and dignity in the time of crisis; transition away from nuclear power and fossil fuels, move towards the public-led renewable energy and ensure the worker’s livelihood; stop privatizing railways and expand public transportation to ensure the right to mobility for all; stop constructing new airports and developing national parks, which are detrimental to the ecosystem and climate crisis; hold accountable the mega polluters like multinational corporations and the wealthy responsible for the climate crisis. Listen instead to the voices of those on the frontline of the crisis.

• Speakers at the rally included members of the Osong Tragedy Task Force(14 people were trapped in an underpass during heavy rain and lost their lives), coal power workers, and anti-poverty activists, among others, regarding the five demands. In addition, one of the railroad workers who recently went on strike, an environmental activist who was in danger of being detained for protesting the Four Rivers Project (which caused environmental destruction by installing beams on major rivers), and a Japanese anti-nuclear activist who came to Korea for the Anti-Nuclear Asia Forum spoke about the climate and ecological crises. During the march, they also held a 'die-in performance' to warn of the risk of extinction due to the climate crisis.

• The 923 Climate Justice March Organizing Committee, which held the march, included more than 600 organizations from all walks of life, including labor, farmers, women, people with disabilities, animal rights, the environment, and religion, as well as more than 2,500 individual organizers. The number of participating organizations is the largest in the history of climate marches. In addition, the 923 Climate Justice March was attended by people from all over the country by bus or train, and those who could not come to Seoul held rallies in their respective regions.  <The End>.

• Attached: Photo 1(the rally). 2(the march), 3(die-in performance)

* Photo 1: More than 30,000 workers and citizens gather to demand climate justice in Seoul, South Korea. ©923 Climate Justice March Organizing Committee

* Photo 2: Over 30,000 laborers march for climate justice in Seoul, South Korea. ©923 Climate Justice March Organizing Committee

* Photo 3: More than 30,000 workers and citizens staged a die-in performance in Seoul, South Korea, to call attention to the threat of extinction from the climate crisis. 

 ©923 Climate Justice March Organizing Committee