Jang Ok-gi, Construction Union Chairman, Appears at Police Station: "Our Activities Are Right"

The executive committee of the Construction Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), accused of holding a 1-night, 2-day rally in downtown Seoul, appeared at the police station for investigation. They claimed that their actions were legitimate union activities and that the government was suppressing them.

Jang Ok-gi, chairman of the Construction Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who is under investigation related to the 1-night 2-day rally in downtown Seoul last month, held a press conference in front of Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul on the afternoon of the 22nd before appearing at the police station to state his position.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, Seoul Namdaemun Police Station announced that it had summoned Jang Ok-gi, chairman of the Construction Union, around 1 p.m. on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act. Jeon Byeong-seon, head of the Construction Union’s Organization and Dispute Office, also appeared at the police station earlier that day on the same charges.

So far, the police have requested their appearance a total of five times. However, the Construction Union stated that they would appear after completing the funeral of the late Yang Hoe-dong. Yang’s memorial service was concluded the previous day.

Before the police investigation, Chairman Jang said, "I came voluntarily because I believed our activities were right. Is it wrong to engage in union activities guaranteed by the Constitution, or is it wrong for the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the police to block them?"

They held a 1-night, 2-day rally in downtown Seoul on the 16th and 17th of last month to demand an apology and express condolences related to Yang, who died by self-immolation. During this process, they are accused of illegally occupying Seoul Plaza and Cheonggye Plaza by exceeding the reported rally time and refusing to comply with the dispersal order.

Meanwhile, a clash occurred between the Construction Union and the police ahead of the press conference that day. It is reported that the clash happened during the coordination of the press conference venue. Construction Union officials also clashed with conservative YouTubers who came to film the press conference.

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