'Illegal Assembly' Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, First Trial Verdict Today

Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first trial sentencing hearing for Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who is accused of leading large-scale rallies in downtown Seoul amid the COVID-19 outbreak, is set to take place.

On the 25th, Judge Jeong Jong-geon of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9 will conduct the first trial sentencing hearing at 2:20 p.m. for Yang, who has been charged with violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and other offenses.

At the previous closing argument, the prosecutor requested the court to sentence Yang to 1 year and 6 months in prison and impose a fine of 3 million won. The prosecutor emphasized, "The crimes were repeatedly committed, and considering the risk of spreading infectious diseases and the danger posed to the public, please take these factors into account."

On the other hand, Yang’s defense team acknowledged most of the charges but argued the unconstitutionality of related provisions in the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and the illegality of local government assembly restriction notices. In the final defense, Yang’s lawyer appealed for leniency, stating, "The poor and powerless people cried out in the square as a last resort to express their desperate demands due to job losses caused by disasters such as COVID-19." He also emphasized, "The UN has stated that a total ban on assemblies cannot be permitted," and "The international community and civic groups are appealing for the defendant’s release."

Yang himself made a final statement, saying, "Before being the chairman of the KCTU, I had to speak for the vulnerable as a non-regular worker," and asked that the three rallies be understood as the cries of laborers.

Previously, Yang was prosecuted for leading several illegal protests from May to July (violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and general traffic obstruction). Notably, approximately 8,000 people attended the National Workers’ Rally held in downtown Seoul on July 3, according to the organizers’ estimates.

The police secured Yang’s custody on September 2, 20 days after the court issued an arrest warrant, and transferred him to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office. The prosecution indicted Yang in custody on the 15th of last month.

On July 3rd, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a nationwide workers' rally in Jongno 3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, demanding a complete revision of the labor law. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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