'Police Evidence Collection Protest' Metalworkers Union Branch Chief Released 4 Hours After Arrest

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] On the morning of the 24th, the Suseo Police Station in Seoul announced that they had arrested Kim Sun-young (50), head of the Metalworkers' Union Automobile Sales Solidarity Branch, on charges of obstructing official duties in front of the Autoway Tower in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu.

Kim was accused of obstructing official duties while protesting in front of the Autoway Tower, where Hyundai Motor Company's Domestic Sales Headquarters is located, around 8:32 a.m. that day, during a police evidence-gathering operation. Kim was arrested by two officers from the Daechi Police Substation present at the scene, taken to the Suseo Police Station for questioning, and released at 12:20 p.m. after about four hours.

The Metalworkers' Union issued a press release stating, "When the police followed union members engaged in promotional activities citing evidence-gathering, Kim tried to separate the police and union members with a placard, but the police began the arrest claiming the placard touched an officer's face." They also urged, "The police should apologize for the excessive use of authority in arresting the branch head following the evidence-gathering on union members."

The Metalworkers' Union Automobile Sales Solidarity Branch has set up a protest camp in front of the Autoway Tower, demanding employment succession for workers from the closed Hyundai Motor sales outlets, and has been protesting for over 200 days.

The police stated, "Details of Kim's specific charges and the circumstances of the arrest are under investigation and cannot be disclosed."

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