Prosecutors Request Arrest Warrant for Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, over 'July 3 Illegal Rally'

Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), is entering Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the afternoon of the 4th to undergo investigation related to the nationwide workers' rally in downtown Seoul last month, led by the KCTU.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The prosecution has requested an arrest warrant for Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who is accused of leading large-scale rallies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to legal circles on the 10th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office decided to file an arrest warrant with the court for Chairman Yang after meeting with KCTU's lawyers prior to the warrant request. It is reported that Chairman Yang did not attend the meeting.

Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's July 3 Illegal Rally Investigation Headquarters applied for a pre-arrest warrant for Chairman Yang on the 6th on charges of leading the National Workers' Rally, estimated by organizers to have about 8,000 participants, in the Jongno area of Seoul, violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, among other charges. Violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and general traffic obstruction charges were also applied.

The police included violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act that occurred at KCTU-hosted rallies held from May to June this year, including the workers' rally on June 3, in their arrest warrant application. The KCTU held events in downtown Seoul such as the "International Workers' Day Rally" on May 1, the installation of a "Citizen Memorial Altar" on June 9, the "Courier Workers' Protest" on June 15-16, and the "Joint Memorial for Disaster Workers" on June 19.

Regarding the July 3 National Workers' Rally, the police requested Chairman Yang to appear for investigation at Jongno Police Station three times on June 4, 9, and 16, but he refused. After Chairman Yang repeatedly declined to appear, the police applied for an arrest warrant, which was rejected by the prosecution. Chairman Yang voluntarily appeared at Jongno Police Station on the 4th of this month and was questioned for about five and a half hours.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's July 3 Illegal Rally Investigation Headquarters has so far booked 23 people on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and has investigated 19 of them as of today. The summons investigations are expected to be completed within two weeks.

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