Police Obtain Arrest Warrants for Construction Union Chairman and Organization Director over '1 Night 2 Days Rally'

Led a 1 Night 2 Days Rally in Downtown Seoul Last May

The police have requested arrest warrants for two executives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Construction Union who held a '1 night 2 days' rally last May.

According to the police on the 17th, the Seoul Namdaemun Police Station applied to the prosecution on the 14th for arrest warrants against Jang Ok-gi, chairman of the KCTU Construction Union, and Jeon Byeong-seon, head of the Organization and Dispute Office, on charges including the Assembly and Demonstration Act, Road Act, and Public Property Act. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office filed the arrest warrants for them on the 16th.

Jang Ok-gi, Chairman of the Construction Workers' Union.
Photo by Yonhap News

They are accused of holding a rally in downtown Seoul beyond the reported time despite police orders to disperse on May 16-17, and unlawfully occupying Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza, and nearby sidewalks, where they stayed overnight.

The Construction Union and KCTU held rallies on May 16 and 17, respectively, demanding a government apology and an end to union suppression regarding the self-immolation death of the late executive Yang Hoe-dong.

The police have investigated on the grounds that the Construction Union continued the protest under the pretext of a candlelight cultural festival after the assembly ban notice at 5 p.m., which exceeded the scope of the reported rally. In addition, the police combined investigations into illegal acts that occurred at the KCTU's resolution rally in February and the workers' rally in May.

On June 2, the police booked 29 people, including five organizers and 24 union members, on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act. On June 9, the Seoul Jungbu Police Station sent two executives, including KCTU Vice Chairman Lee Tae-ui, and 24 union members to prosecution without detention on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and obstructing general traffic.

Chairman Jang received four summons but insisted on attending after the funeral of Yang Hoe-dong, and eventually appeared at Namdaemun Police Station on June 22. It is reported that Chairman Jang did not undergo police interrogation afterward.

The pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant substantive examination) is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m. on the 21st at the Seoul Central District Court.

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