Police Form Special Team to Investigate Illegal Rally by Minju No Chong Wonju Chapter

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) forcibly held an illegal rally in Wonju, Gangwon Province, prompting the police to form a dedicated investigation team and launch an inquiry.

The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency announced on the 23rd, "Despite the COVID-19 spread situation and the assembly ban imposed by Wonju City and the police, the KCTU organizers and illegal participants who forcibly held an illegal rally in the downtown area of Wonju caused public anxiety. In response, a joint dedicated investigation team composed of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency and the Wonju Police Station has been formed and started an investigation."

They added, "The police will promptly and strictly investigate the rally organizers and key participants who forcibly held the illegal rally, applying charges such as violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act." The dedicated investigation team consists of 17 members, led by the head of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency's investigation division.

Despite repeated government requests for restraint and local governments raising social distancing levels, the KCTU held a rally in front of the National Health Insurance Service office in Wonju City to urge the direct employment of customer center counselors. Wonju City banned all rallies except for one-person protests and completely blocked police access to the downtown area, causing the KCTU to hold sporadic rallies around the NHIS area. Most participants dispersed around 4 p.m. that day, and no participants were reported to have been arrested on site.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.