[Exclusive] Illegal Lane Occupation and Excessive Noise... Police Investigate Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at 'National Workers' Rally'

First Large-Scale Rally After Assembly Act Amendment
Police to Strictly Enforce Noise Standards and Other Regulations

The police have launched a full-scale investigation into illegal activities that occurred during large-scale rallies such as the “National Workers' Rally” organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held in downtown Seoul last weekend. A significant number of KCTU officials who led the rallies have come under police scrutiny. Since this was the first large-scale rally held after the revision of the Assembly and Demonstration Act last month, it is interpreted as reflecting the police’s strict response policy.

According to the police on the 15th, the Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul sent summons letters to four KCTU officials on the previous day, ordering them to appear by the 20th on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act. They are accused of exceeding noise limits during a large-scale downtown rally held on the 11th, which resolved to demand the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and to intensify struggles against the government. It has been confirmed that among those notified to appear, KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo and Metal Workers' Union Chairman Yoon Jang-hyuk were not included.

The Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul also sent summons letters to two KCTU officials, ordering them to appear by the 20th for investigation on charges of occupying all lanes beyond the originally reported scope during the same rally. They are accused of holding a rally and temporarily occupying all lanes while marching on the road toward Euljiro east of Seoul City Hall, exceeding the reported limits.

On the 11th, participants at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions National Workers' Rally near Seodaemun Station in Seoul are holding placards and shouting slogans. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Following the promulgation and enforcement of the revised Enforcement Decree of the Assembly and Demonstration Act on the 17th of last month?the first revision in nine years?the noise standards for on-site rallies have changed. Previously, noise standards were defined as the average noise level over 10 minutes, divided by time zones depending on the location and area. However, some rally organizers evaded the law by producing noise exceeding the standard for about five minutes and then lowering the volume of loudspeakers for the remaining time, thereby increasing noise damage. In response, the revised decree shortened the noise measurement time for residential areas from 10 minutes to 5 minutes and tightened the maximum noise violation criteria from exceeding three times within an hour to exceeding twice or more.

According to the police, during this rally, the maximum daytime noise standard (below 85 dB) was exceeded, with the peak noise reaching about 90 dB, and the “equivalent noise,” which measures the average noise over 10 minutes, also exceeded the standard of 65 dB. However, the organizers repeatedly lowered the noise temporarily when the police ordered the cessation of loudspeaker use and then raised it again. A police official stated, “We are investigating the violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act based on noise measurement data collected on-site.” Additionally, the Jongno Police Station in Seoul also sent a summons letter to one member of the Liberty Unification Party on the same charges.

On the 11th, the KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) each held large-scale rallies, gathering at Seodaemun Station intersection in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and in front of Yeouido Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, respectively, demanding the immediate enforcement of the Yellow Envelope Act and the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. According to the organizers, about 50,000 people attended the KCTU rally (police estimated about 26,000), and about 60,000 attended the FKTU rally (police estimated about 20,000). The Liberty Unification Party, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, also held a rally on the same day around Sejong-daero in Jongno-gu, with about 15,000 attendees according to the organizers (police estimated the same number).

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