Court Fines Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, 4 Million Won for 'Illegal Labor Day Rally'

Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions./Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] Fines have been imposed on Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the 전국민주노동조합총연맹 (Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, KCTU), and other related officials for holding a large-scale Labor Day rally in May 2021 in violation of COVID-19 quarantine rules.

On the 9th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 8 (Presiding Judge Choi Chang-hoon) held a sentencing hearing for 25 KCTU executives, including Chairman Yang, who were prosecuted for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and sentenced Chairman Yang to a fine of 4 million won.

Other KCTU officials indicted alongside Chairman Yang, including Vice Chairmen Yoon Taek-geun and Lee Yang-su, and Secretary-General Jeon Jong-deok, were also fined between 2 million and 4 million won. Judge Choi postponed the sentencing for two defendants who did not appear in court to the 16th.

Judge Choi stated, "Considering the legislative purpose of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and related provisions, as well as the medical response level according to the characteristics and spread of the infectious disease at that time, I do not accept the defendants' claim that the principle of broad delegation of authority was violated."

He also said, "Even when viewed in light of the restricted property and freedom rights under the government's social distancing measures at the time, the assembly ban notice was for a limited period, and it is difficult to conclude that the restrictions were excessive, so the claim of unconstitutionality is not accepted."

Chairman Yang and others were prosecuted for leading the 131st World Labor Day Seoul Rally in front of the LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, Seoul, on May 1, 2021, in violation of quarantine rules. The prosecution viewed their activities as exceeding the scope of the reported assembly and violating quarantine rules.

Some of the KCTU officials prosecuted together were charged with forcibly holding a nationwide workers' rally on July 3, 2021, despite police assembly ban notices.

Meanwhile, Chairman Yang is also on trial after being detained and indicted for leading the KCTU July 3 Workers' Rally in Jongno, Seoul, which was estimated by organizers to have about 8,000 participants, despite the ban on rallies in downtown Seoul due to COVID-19 quarantine measures on July 3, 2021.

In July last year, the appellate court upheld the first trial's verdict, which found Chairman Yang guilty of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, sentencing him to one year in prison with a two-year probation and a fine of 3 million won. Chairman Yang has appealed to the Supreme Court.

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