'Arrest Warrant Denied for Former Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Executive Suspected of Receiving Over 100 Million Won in Bribes'

The arrest warrant for Kang Mo, former Senior Vice Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), who is suspected of receiving illicit payments amounting to hundreds of millions of won, was dismissed.

Seoul Central District Court. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

On the 20th, Judge Yoon Jae-nam, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, stated, "Considering factors such as the suspect's occupation, residence, and family relations, the risk of flight appears low, and therefore, the necessity and appropriateness of detaining the suspect are deemed insufficient."

He added, "Although there are suspicious circumstances regarding whether the suspect returned the 100 million won received to the giver, it is acknowledged that the suspect received 100 million won and attempted to provide 50 million won of it to the giver, and he is reflecting on his wrongdoing."

Kang is accused of receiving 100 million won in September last year from Choi Mo and two others of the Korea United Construction Industry Labor Union as a bribe for facilitating their membership in the FKTU (embezzlement). He is also charged with attempting to deliver 50 million won to Lee Mo, former Secretary-General of the FKTU (attempted embezzlement mediation).

In July last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Violent Crime Investigation Unit launched an investigation after the Korea Construction Industry Labor Union (Geonsan Nojo) was expelled from the FKTU due to the chairman's embezzlement of union dues, complicity, and abnormal accounting operations. They suspected that Choi and others attempted to join the FKTU following this expulsion.

Kang stepped down from his position as Senior Vice Chairman on February 28 following the election of the new FKTU executive team but continues to hold the position of chairman of the affiliated federation.

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