'Arrest Warrant Issued' Yang Kyung-soo, Minnochoong Chairman... Concerns Over 'Labor-Police Clash'

Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Clashes are feared ahead of the execution of an arrest warrant for Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who led a large-scale rally with over 8,000 participants in downtown Seoul on the 3rd of last month. If the forced detention procedure against the KCTU executive proceeds for the first time in eight years, there is a possibility of a 'labor-police clash.'

According to the police and labor circles on the 17th, the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant on the 13th for Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, on charges including violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and obstruction of general traffic. Chairman Yang refused to appear at the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) scheduled for the 11th, submitting only a written statement. Ultimately, the warrant was issued through a written hearing.

Chairman Yang and the KCTU maintain their stance of not complying with the detention procedure. They argue that treating rallies aimed at alerting threats to livelihood as serious crimes and attempting to arrest the KCTU chairman, who poses low risk of evidence destruction or flight, is an abuse of public authority.

Considering the labor-police relations involving Chairman Yang and the presidential election climate, it is pointed out that enforcement will not be easy. Experts interpret that both the labor sector and government are reluctant to confront each other ahead of the presidential election. The possibility of physical clashes during the warrant execution process cannot be ruled out. During the 2013 general strike by the KCTU opposing the privatization of the Suseo KTX, police and unions clashed violently. At that time, police entered the KCTU office building in Jeong-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to arrest Kim Myung-hwan, then chairman of the Railway Workers' Union (former KCTU chairman), who had gone into hiding, along with other executives. Numerous injuries occurred among union members and police during the forced warrant execution.

The KCTU plans to continue its struggles in the second half of the year, including preparing for a general strike involving 1.1 million participants on October 20. Chairman Yang said, "During the investigation, the police persistently questioned whether last month's rally was a preliminary battle for the second half strike," adding, "Although a difficult path is anticipated, preparations for the general strike will proceed without setbacks." A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated, "We are preparing the necessary procedures for warrant execution, including locating Chairman Yang," but added, "The timing of the warrant execution is not immediate."

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