Two Union Officials Arrested for Embezzling Tens of Millions of Won in Union Establishment Case

Police Arrest Two Suspects Per Day, Continue Investigation of Accomplices and Additional Crimes

Two union officials who extorted tens of millions of won under the pretext of recruitment fees while visiting construction sites in the eastern region of Jeonnam were caught by the police.

The Violent Crime Investigation Unit of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 14th that it had arrested two construction union officials, including A (53), on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (joint extortion).

The police also booked four other union associates, accomplices, without detention on the same charges.

A broadcast protest vehicle created to intimidate construction companies.
[Photo by Jeonnam Police Agency]

A and others are accused of extorting 31 million won from four apartment construction sites in the eastern region of Jeonnam from around September 2021 to October last year under the pretext of recruitment fees and union development funds.

They threatened site officials by demanding union member recruitment and money, saying that if they did not comply, they would file complaints or hold rallies.

It was revealed that A, who had experience as a union member extorting money through threats and obstructing construction companies at construction sites while active in the labor union, directly became a union official and established a labor union with 10 members in August last year to continue the extortion.

After establishing the union, A actually went around apartment construction sites, using loudspeakers and broadcasting vehicles to cause extreme noise or pressuring companies by filming minor violations during the construction process and reporting them as complaints.

They also attempted to control site access, claiming they would root out illegal foreign workers.

Most of the victim companies were small subcontractors at construction sites who found it difficult to bear the costs incurred due to construction delays, so many complied with their demands.

It was confirmed that most of the money extorted in this way was used for the personal purposes of the union officials, contrary to the original purpose of the labor union.

Based on intelligence that there was a gang extorting money at construction sites under the guise of union activities, the police have launched an investigation and are tracking additional crimes and accomplices.

The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency stated, “We will continue to strictly respond to organized illegal activities such as extortion and violence occurring at construction sites to eradicate chronic illegal acts and do our best to establish law and order.”

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