Union Members Disrupting Construction Site Work...Suspended Sentence in First Trial

Charges Including Obstruction of Business

On the 13th, the court sentenced the members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions who led the rally to pressure construction companies for employment to a suspended sentence in the first trial.

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) who led a rally to pressure construction companies on employment were sentenced to probation in the first trial.

On the 13th, Judge Yoon Yangji of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 10 sentenced A, the deputy chief of the Northwest District of the Seoul Construction Branch of the National Construction Workers' Union under the KCTU, team leader B, and union member C to 10 months imprisonment, 1 year imprisonment, and a fine of 5 million won respectively on charges of obstruction of business and violation of the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts (including joint damage to property). However, they were all given a 2-year suspended sentence. In addition, A was fined 2 million won for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

They are accused of climbing a crane at a construction site in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, around March last year to pressure the employment of KCTU members, damaging the crane's lock, and obstructing construction work for five days.

A is also charged with holding three rallies in March last year near Susaek Districts 6 and 7 in Eunpyeong-gu, where more than 200 union members gathered, despite a ban on assemblies of more than 10 people, and generating noise of 76 dB, exceeding the residential noise permit standard of 65 dB.

In court, A claimed that he was not the organizer of the rally, only spoke under the deputy chief’s instructions, did not violate the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act or the Assembly and Demonstration Act, and even if he did, it was a justifiable act.

However, Judge Yoon rejected A’s claims, considering ▲ the role of the deputy chief ▲ the police’s awareness of A’s position ▲ the police’s request to the entire executive to end the rally ▲ the rally being held for a purpose significantly different from the reported one.

Judge Yoon pointed out, “The defendants conspired to obstruct the victims’ construction work by force and damaged the victims’ property (lock) in the process, and it appears that the victim companies suffered considerable economic losses due to the obstruction.”

However, he explained the sentencing rationale by stating, “C is a regular union member, not an executive, played a relatively less leading role compared to A and B, and the victim companies do not wish for their punishment.”

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