Im Jong-rin, Head of the Paris Baguette Branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Sent to Prosecutors on Charges of Obstruction of Business

The Textile Workers' Union Denies Allegations, Saying "It Was a Struggle Against Company Surveillance"

In July 2019, in front of the Economic, Social and Labor Council in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a press conference was held organized by the Joint Struggle to Stop Irregular Employment Now! to announce their position and plans for action following the cancellation of the Economic, Social and Labor Council plenary session. Lim Jong-rin, the head of the Paris Baguette branch, is speaking. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Lim Jong-rin, head of the Paris Baguette branch of the National Chemical, Food, and Textile Industry Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU Chemical Union), has been referred to the prosecution on charges of obstruction of business.

According to the police on the 2nd, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul sent Lim and Choi You-kyung, senior deputy head of the KCTU Paris Baguette branch, to the prosecution without detention on charges of obstruction of business and joint refusal to vacate on the 17th of last month. A police official stated, "We investigated Lim and Choi on charges of obstruction of business, joint refusal to vacate, and assault, but the assault charges were not recognized."

Lim and Choi are accused of obstructing business operations at an underground store while conducting a tent sit-in protest in front of the SPC building in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on November 13 last year. It is known that they had a confrontation with the management staff at the time.

The union claims that when Lim and Choi left the protest site set up in front of the building to use the restroom, the management staff made provocative remarks such as "Where are they?" and "Where did they go again?" Lim reportedly confronted the staff by saying, "Why are you talking behind our backs?" and "Why are you speaking loudly so everyone can hear?" which led to the clash.

The KCTU Chemical Union maintains that the obstruction of business charges cannot be accepted. A union official stated, "The scuffle occurred while a man, presumed to be sent by the headquarters, was continuously monitoring the union and taking photos. The incident happened near the end of the store’s business hours, and there was no entry into the store." SPC responded by saying, "The staff involved were merely part-time workers guiding visitors on quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Lim held a sit-in protest in front of the SPC building in Hannam-dong from July to the end of December last year. During this period, the company filed a provisional injunction to prohibit business obstruction, and the union moved the protest to the SPC headquarters in Yangjae, Seoul, at the end of December, continuing the demonstration. From March 28 to May 19, they also engaged in a 53-day hunger strike.

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