"Why Employ Other Union Members?"... Gangwon Police Strictly Crack Down on Illegal Acts by Construction Site Union Members with "Arrest and Investigation"

Special Crackdown on Organized Illegal Activities Such as Extortion and Violence at Construction Sites Until June Next Year
93 Investigated This Year: 1 Arrested, 17 Not Detained, 2 Not Prosecuted, 73 Under Investigation

Gangwon Provincial Police Agency [Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gangwon police arrested five suspects, including one who was detained, for assaulting the CEO of a certain medium-sized company in Gangwon Province with a weapon while threatening him to use equipment from a specific labor union between late June and early July this year.

Earlier in March, 15 union members who unlawfully entered a construction site of an apartment complex in the province for hiring workers from another union were arrested, with one of them charged with obstruction of business.

In the same month, seven union members were arrested on charges of mutual violence and property damage during a rally for hiring their own union members at another apartment construction site.

In response to various violent acts occurring at construction sites, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency announced on the 27th that they will conduct a special crackdown on organized illegal activities such as extortion and violence at construction sites until June next year.

According to the Gangwon police, the focus of the crackdown includes violence demonstrating collective power, organized violence and threats for extortion, coercion to hire specific groups or use construction machinery, and retaliatory acts against whistleblowers reporting illegal activities.

Since the beginning of this year, Gangwon police have investigated 93 people in 32 cases, detaining one person, and completed investigations on 19 individuals (17 referred to prosecution, 2 not prosecuted). Additionally, within three weeks of the special crackdown on illegal activities at construction sites, investigations or pre-indictment inquiries are underway for 73 people in 28 cases.

The types of crimes include 16 cases of extortion, 10 cases of obstruction of business and various violence, 5 cases of coercion in hiring, and 1 other case.

To carry out the 'Special Crackdown on Organized Illegal Activities such as Extortion and Violence at Construction Sites' launched on the 8th, Gangwon police formed a comprehensive response team of 24 members led by the Public Safety Division Chief, conducting intelligence gathering and investigation progress checks twice a week.

In particular, a dedicated investigation team of 35 members was organized by combining the Anti-Corruption Economic Crime Investigation Unit (18 members) and the Violent Crime Investigation Unit (17 members), and rapid response teams of 335 members were formed across 17 police stations to strengthen enforcement activities.

Kim Do-hyung, Chief of Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, stated at a command meeting, "Since various illegal acts at construction sites are chronic problems, we will strictly investigate and detain offenders and their masterminds immediately upon occurrence under the principle of 'on-site arrest,' especially for retaliatory crimes and organized violence."

He added, "We have designated investigation team leaders as victim protectors to ensure thorough safety measures tailored to the situations of victims and whistleblowers," and urged, "Please actively report if you have suffered any harm."

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