SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- Union members of the three state-run banks staged their first joint protest against a possible relocation of the banks outside the capital, officials said Tuesday.

The unions of the Korea Development Bank, the Industrial Bank of Korea and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Exim Bank) gathered in the financial district of Yeouido in western Seoul to stage the rally at 7 p.m., with the event lasting about an hour.

Around 2,000 members affiliated with the Korea Financial Industry Union attended the event, according to estimates by the union.

The move comes as the land ministry is expected to announce the potential candidate sites for the relocation of some 350 public institutions as early as next month.

In a joint statement released the previous day, the unions called on the government to immediately halt the review of the relocation plan, saying it could become an "economic disaster" that undermines the foundation of the country's high-tech industries.

On Tuesday, riot police and other officers were dispatched to cordon off roads leading to the rally site near the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Korea Financial Industry Union is reportedly considering going on strike in early September, with plans for a vote on whether to hold a joint action over various issues, including the reported relocation plan Wednesday.

sookim@yna.co.kr

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