Construction Union Executive Who Self-Immolated Ahead of Detention Hearing Dies During Treatment

Died During Hospitalization on the Morning of the 2nd
Minju No Chong: "Union Suppression Encouraged Self-Immolation"

A Democratic Labor Union Construction Branch Gangwon executive who self-immolated ahead of the pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review) died while receiving treatment at a hospital on the 2nd.

According to Gangneung Police Station, Yang Mo (50), an executive of the Construction Union Gangwon Branch, died around 1:09 p.m. that day while hospitalized at Seoul Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital.

Yang set himself on fire around 9:35 a.m. the previous day in front of the Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch after dousing his body with a volatile substance ahead of the pre-trial detention hearing. Yang, who suffered full-body burns, was unconscious and was transported to the hospital by the 119 emergency medical team that responded.

Before self-immolating, Yang reportedly left a letter in the form of a will stating, "I engaged in union activities justly and without guilt, yet the charges are not even violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act but obstruction of business and extortion. My pride does not allow this."

On the morning of the 2nd, in front of the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, members of the Gangwon Regional Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, progressive parties including the Justice Party, and civic groups held a press conference condemning that "the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the prosecution and police's suppression of labor unions provoked the self-immolation of construction workers." [Image source=Yonhap News]

Yang, along with two union members of the Construction Union Gangwon Branch, had arrest warrants requested on charges of joint extortion under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Crimes and obstruction of business. The court dismissed all three arrest warrants, including Yang’s.

They are accused of extorting about 80 million won from construction companies in the Gangwon region by forcing the hiring of union members and demanding salaries for site executives from April last year to February this year.

The Democratic Labor Union Gangwon Regional Headquarters and others held a press conference in front of the Gangwon Police Agency that day, criticizing, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the prosecution and police’s suppression of unions provoked the self-immolation of construction workers," and added, "The harsh criticism of unions and labeling them as 'illegal' has fueled anti-union sentiment throughout society."

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