Deepening Survival Crisis Among Workers and the People
The economic crisis and the collapse of people’s livelihoods are worsening. In October 2026, consumer prices rose by 2.8% year-on-year. Petroleum product prices increased by 14.9%, manufactured goods by 4.4%, dining-out prices by 2.9%, and processed food prices by 2.9%. The cost-of-living index also rose by 2.6%. As the prices of energy, food, and essential daily necessities continue to rise, the burden of making ends meet on workers and the people is growing heavier. In the second quarter, average monthly household interest expenses increased by 12.1% year-on-year, while the average propensity to consume fell by 1.2 percentage points. This is the reality in which people are forced to cut back on consumption because of the burden of debt and living expenses, even when their incomes increase. Instability in the labor market is also severe. As of August 2026, the number of non-regular workers stood at 8.671 million, accounting for 38.5% of all wage workers. This represented an increase of 103,000 from the previous year, with the number of fixed-term workers rising by 187,000 and that of part-time workers by 152,000. The average monthly wage of non-regular workers is a mere 2.112 million won (approx. $1550). Among non-regular workers, the national pension enrollment rate stands at just 36.5%, the health insurance enrollment rate at 53%, and the employment insurance enrollment rate at 54%. In a reality where four out of every ten workers are non-regular workers, low wages, employment insecurity, and exclusion from social insurance are becoming entrenched as structural problems that strangle the lives of workers and the people.
Struggles by non-regular workers are continuing. The Korean Metal Workers’ Union exposed that although 21,200 subcontracted workers from 77 branches and sub-branches had demanded collective bargaining with 24 prime contractors, not a single prime contractors had actually agreed to negotiations by early July. School non-regular workers have also announced a general strike for November 27 to rectify wage discrimination and poor working conditions. Amid this situation, the government and ruling party are pushing ahead with anti-labor reforms by incorporating special labor provisions into the Mega Special Zone Act, including exemptions from the 52-hour workweek, extensions of the permitted employment period for fixed-term workers, and the expansion of dispatched labor. Under the pretext of industrial competitiveness and corporate freedom, they are seeking to sacrifice workers’ right to health and employment security while expanding long working hours and precarious employment. It is no longer tolerable that workers are denied the right to collective bargaining despite being controlled by prime contractors, and face discrimination despite performing the same work. The abolition of non-regular employment, the guarantee of fundamental labor rights, and the right to work safely are urgent demands of workers and the people.
Subservience to the United States and Anti-Democratic, Anti-Reform Conduct
The Trump administration is weaponizing tariffs to pressure the export industries and trade policies of the ‘Republic of Korea’ (ROK). In July 2026, the USA finalized tariff measures under Section 301 of the Trade Act in connection with its ban on imports of products made with forced labor. The ‘ROK’ was subjected to a total tariff rate of 12.5%, including the existing Most-Favored-Nation tariffs. On top of this, the USA is even conducting tariff investigations under the pretext of structural overproduction in order to impose additional economic plunder. The coercion to force the ‘ROK’ into making investments in the USA is also serious. In October, Trump unilaterally announced that the ‘ROK’ would invest $50 billion in the Alaska LNG project, and then threatened that unless the ‘ROK’ agreed to the investment, the investment amount and tariffs would be doubled. Meanwhile, the USA is linking large-scale investment projects in the USA with security consultations, thereby expanding its trade and investment pressure into the security sphere as well. The USA’s all-out coercion is further deepening the colonial subordination of the ‘ROK’ economy to the USA.
Policies that prioritize US interests and the investment returns of large corporations over the development of domestic industries and employment security are driving the foundations of domestic industry and workers’ lives toward ruin. The ‘ROK’ regime, instead of protecting the economy against expanding the investments in the USA and market-opening pressure, is completely surrendering to US demands. The same applies to the security sphere. As the USA pressured the ‘ROK’ to support military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, the government moved to expand the operational area of the Cheonghae Unit to areas near the Strait of Hormuz and is pursuing the additional deployment of maritime patrol aircraft and mine-clearing forces. Although framed as non-combat missions, this is nothing more than an overt attempt to make military interventions in West Asia in accordance with the US military demands. The regime, which should be responsible for the lives and safety of the people, is actively siding with the US war provocations.
Meanwhile, the anti-democratic and anti-reform conduct of the Lee Jae-myung government has gone too far. The old practices of repression, relying on security agencies and fascist laws, are still being repeated against progressive forces, including the People’s Democracy Party, as well as activists in the reunification movement and progressive activists. Amid this situation, on October 20, the police raided the offices of the reform-oriented media outlet “Sisatapa TV” and the residence of its representative. The reality in which even voices criticizing the regime and raising questions about problems within the power structure are subjected to forced investigations cannot be taken lightly. What kind of justice can there be in a politics that even turns former comrades from the same camp, who once raised their voices together for the eradication of insurrection, into enemies? It is time to intensify the struggle to defend democracy against the Lee Jae-myung government’s betrayal of reform principles and its efforts to dismantle its own political camp.
Expansion of War and Explosion of Public Anger
The crisis of war in Eastern Europe is grave. Military confrontation between Russia and NATO is spreading across Eastern Europe and the Black Sea. In October, a series of incidents occurred in which merchant ships were damaged and crew members lost their lives in drone attacks in the Black Sea near Romania and Bulgaria. As the repercussions of the war spread to areas near NATO member states, tensions throughout Eastern Europe are escalating. Between November 2 and 5, at least 34 civilian aircraft received bomb threats, resulting in emergency landings, flight diversions, and fighter jet deployments. Security anxieties are spreading throughout Europe, with Britain issuing a 3-day emergency food stockpile guideline. The crisis in East Asia is also heading toward an extreme. Invasive US-Japan-‘ROK’ military exercises surrounding the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait are being carried out one after another. Large-scale joint war exercises such as “Freedom Shield,” “Ulchi Freedom Shield,” and “Freedom Flag” are becoming routine, while trilateral military alliance cooperation is being strengthened through “Freedom Edge,” a US-Japan-‘ROK’ multi-domain exercise. On October 21, Joseph Hilbert, commander of the US 8th Army, suggested the possibility of conducting operations outside the Korean Peninsula, stating that it would be irresponsible for US Forces Korea to focus solely on threats to the Korean Peninsula. Japan has also issued guidance to stockpile at least three days’ worth of emergency food supplies. Unless imperialist aggression is crushed, a real war will break out.
Popular resistance against war, austerity, and soaring prices is spreading. On October 24, approximately 400,000 people participated in massive demonstrations in France protesting high prices and deteriorating living conditions. A general strike by railway workers and the regrouping of the Yellow Vest movement are becoming a reality, while joint struggles among workers and the people are expanding. Protests against deteriorating living conditions and economic policies are also continuing in Spain, Italy, and other countries. General strikes are planned throughout November in various parts of Western Europe, including the French general strike on November 5 and strikes in Italy and the Netherlands. Following the announcement of an early general election in Spain, Belgium’s coalition government has recently reached the brink of collapse. The struggle to overthrow imperialism and win national sovereignty is inseparably linked to the struggle to secure fundamental labor rights and democracy against anti-labor reforms and political repression. Non-regular and regular workers, workers employed by prime contractors and subcontractors, and domestic workers and migrant workers must unite as one beyond discrimination and division. Together with workers and the people around the world, our people will strengthen the joint anti-imperialist struggle and advance toward a new world of independence, democracy, and peace free from war, exploitation, and oppression.
Raise Real Wages! Win the Right of Workers to Survive!
Win Basic Labor Rights! Guarantee the Right to Organize Unions!
Win Bargaining Rights with Prime Contractors! Stop the Anti-Labor Reforms Behind Mega Special Zone!
Recognize Worker Status for Platform and Dependent Contractors!
Equal Pay for Equal Work! Abolish Non-Regular Employment!
Win a Worker-Centered Industrial Transition! Guarantee Employment Security!
Abolish the National Security Act! Dissolve the National Security Investigation Department!
Oppose the Deployment of the ‘ROK’ Troops! Withdraw the US Occupation Forces!
Down With US Imperialism Plotting War in the ‘ROK’ and East Asia!
Carry Forward the Spirit of the Martyrs! Realize People’s Democracy!
Spokesperson’s Press Release (Commentary) No. 697
Abolish the National Security Act and Dissolve the National Security Investigation Department, or Face the Judgment of the People
1. On November 4, the Suwon High Court upheld the innocent verdict in the appeal trial for two former and current officials of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) indicted for violating the National Security Act. The charges included traveling to Guangzhou, China, in September 2018 with a former KCTU official to make contact with an operative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and receive instructions. The prosecution demanded prison sentences of seven and eight years, citing public charges that they attempted to establish an underground organization within the KCTU and intervene in the political activities of domestic political parties and civic organizations. However, following the court of first instance, the appellate court also ruled that the author of the “written instructions” could not be concretely confirmed as a DPRK operative, and that it was not proven that the defendants carried out roles according to the instructions or conspired with accomplices to commit the crime. Regarding the charge of possessing enemy-benefiting materials, the court also ruled that the intent to perform enemy-benefiting acts could not be recognized. The true nature of public security cases and fabricated organizational cases, which aim to isolate the labor movement by framing it as “espionage” activity, was once again revealed through this case.
2. Fascist repression against the labor and reunification movements, as well as the fabrication of espionage cases—spearheaded by the National Security Act—is nothing new. All along, the fascist public security apparatus has concocted countless espionage cases through illegal detention, torture, false confessions, and the fabrication of evidence. And just as one cannot block the sun with the palm of one’s hand, the truth was eventually revealed. The problem is that the vicious habit of repression—relying on public security agencies and fascist evil laws—is still being repeated. A representative example of this is precisely the People’s Democracy Party (PDP) case. The fascist repression against the PDP, initiated by the infamous insurrectionist Yoon Suk-yeol fascist regime, is intensifying even further under the Lee Jae-myung administration, which professes to be a “reformist government.” That the fascist atrocities of the Lee Jae-myung administration now surpass those of the Yoon Suk-yeol period is proven by the search and seizure of “Sisatapa,” a media outlet from its own political camp. No one can now deny the truth that for the Lee Jae-myung administration—devoid of both conviction and loyalty—the very concept of “comrades” in the broader democratic-progressive camp—who fought side by side in the anti-insurrection struggle—simply does not exist.
3. Abolish the National Security Act, the unprecedented fascist evil law. Destroy the weapon of fascist rule inherited from the Japanese imperialists’ Maintenance of Public Order Act through successive dictatorial regimes. Dissolve all repressive apparatuses wielding this fascist evil law. Immediately end the deceitful facade and fraud of spouting “democracy” and “reform” while keeping the National Security Act and the National Security Investigation Department intact. The rage of the people is boiling over at the revolting spectacle of the administration that has not a shred of intent toward “reform,” yet frantically maneuvers under that name to extend its hold on power and secure its own safety after leaving office. Cut the sweet talk and false promises, and abolish the National Security Act and dissolve the National Security Investigation Department right now. They must clearly realize that, if they pursue such a course, what lies ahead is far beyond a mere drop in approval ratings—it is only a matter of time before the popular rage exploding across Western Europe spreads like wildfire across this land. As the glorious history of struggle proves, our people will surely crush all fascist systems by their own power and bring forward a new world of true democracy. We declare with absolute certainty: that day is not far off.
November 6, 2026
In Front of the National Police Agency
Spokesperson’s Office of the People’s Democracy Party (PDP)
Spokesperson’s Press Release (Statement) No. 698
Let Us Avert War Through Anti-Imperialist and Anti-Fascist Struggle and Bring Forward a New World of People’s Democracy
A war in Eastern Europe is imminent. In October, the imperialist camp threatened to blockade Kaliningrad at the Warsaw Security Forum. Then, on November 3, the Polish government launched a “special operation” against Russia in the border area with Kaliningrad, mobilizing counterterrorism police forces and intelligence agents. Beginning November 9, the first war exercise in Poland by the British- and French-led “Multinational Force Ukraine” is scheduled to take place. It is by no means a coincidence that Western media have persistently sought to link Russia to at least 34 terrorist threats targeting civilian aircraft across Europe between November 2 and 5. As demonstrated by the Ukrainian neo-Nazis’ attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea in July, as well as the military clashes in the Baltic Sea and the bombing of a train near the Polish border in September, the war in Ukraine has already expanded to NATO’s borders. As is well known, the expansion of war and the convergence of theaters are clear harbingers of a world war.
The flames of war in Eastern Europe, ignited by imperialism, are spreading into the flames of popular uprising in Western Europe. The French government is caught in a dilemma: if it fails to implement austerity measures, the country faces bankruptcy; if it does, it faces popular uprising. Mass protests that began over educational issues in France have rapidly transformed into general strikes across Europe. November is set to see a succession of general strikes throughout the month across Western Europe, including Italy and the Netherlands, beginning with the French general strike on November 5. Spain has already announced an early general election, and Belgium’s governing coalition is on the verge of collapse. Imperialism’s drive toward world war succeeded in unleashing the war in Ukraine in 2022 and the war in West Asia, centered on Palestine, in 2023. However, its attempt to provoke a war in East Asia centered on a war in the ‘Republic of Korea (ROK)’ failed in 2024. Subsequently, its launching of a war against Iran and its relentless plotting to ignite a war in Eastern Europe have resulted in popular resistance in Western Europe. This is the Western European people’s declaration of “all-out war” against the imperialist forces that, bent on wars of aggression, have bled the people dry. Aggression and plunder are in the very nature of imperialism, and deflecting domestic crises onto foreign wars is one of its time-worn tactics. Imperialism is becoming ever more desperate to unleash a war in Eastern Europe and a world war in order to escape an unprecedented political and economic crisis.
In the second half of 2026, imperialism’s provocations for a war in the ‘ROK’ have become increasingly serious. From September 29, a four-day US–‘ROK’ nuclear-conventional integration tabletop exercise, “Iron Mace,” was conducted behind closed doors. In October, during the “Hoguk” exercise, US–‘ROK’ field training exercises simulating an all-out war were carried out. These were followed by the joint US–‘ROK’ air exercise “Freedom Flag,” mobilizing the full range of air assets, including F-35Bs and MQ-9s. All of these are, in essence, exercises for wars of aggression targeting the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and, by extension, China. During the same period, US imperialism conducted the “Keen Sword 27” exercise with Japan and NATO member states in locations including Kyushu, Japan, and officially announced the deployment of a Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) to the Korean Peninsula, aimed at launching preemptive strikes against the DPRK, China, and Russia in East Asia. Imperialism’s sinister scheme to provoke a war in the ‘ROK’ and escalate it into a wider East Asian war is being exposed for all the world to see. For imperialism, a war in East Asia is an indispensable gateway to making World War 3 a full-scale reality. This is why it is frantically escalating its provocations without pause until a war in East Asia breaks out. At the center of this East Asian war lies the ‘ROK,’ which the United States calls its “linchpin.” Preventing an imperialist war of aggression has now become a matter of life and death for our people.
Let us rise up in an anti-imperialist and anti-fascist struggle and crush imperialism’s schemes for wars of aggression. First and foremost, the US troops, the root cause of a war in the ‘ROK,’ must be driven out. The US Forces Korea commander’s outrageous remarks about the “Dagger” confirm that, as long as US troops remain stationed here, the ‘ROK’s involvement in an East Asian war is inevitable. The Lee Jae-myung regime, a pro-US lackey regime that follows US imperialism and collaborates in its wars of aggression, must also be brought to an end as soon as possible. Having claimed that there would be no “deployment of troops to participate in a war,” it is now pushing to deploy forces to the Strait of Hormuz and has joined the NATO Summit in Ankara, presenting itself as the vanguard of an “Asian NATO.” This is the unmistakable conduct of a typical lackey of imperialism. It is hardly surprising that such a puppet regime of imperialism resorts to fascist acts of repression, just as the Yoon Suk-yeol pro-US fascist regime did, persecuting the progressive political party, the People’s Democracy Party, and carrying out search-and-seizure raids even against reformist media outlets. Anti-imperialism and anti-fascism are the banners of justice and victory. The struggle of the world’s peoples against imperialism and fascism is spreading like wildfire. Through an anti-imperialist and anti-fascist struggle, our people will break the chains of US imperialism and fascism and surely build a new society of independence, peace, and people’s democracy.
November 7, 2026
In Front of the US Embassy, Gwanhwamun, Seoul
Spokesperson’s Office of the People’s Democracy Party (PDP)
