Police Request Arrest Warrant for Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Over 'Illegal Rally Enforcement' (Comprehensive)

by Jeong Donghoon

Published 06 Aug.2021 18:30(KST)

Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who pushed ahead with the July 3rd National Workers' Rally despite the quarantine authorities' request to cancel the gathering, is appearing on the 4th at Jongno Police Station in Seoul for a summons investigation. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The police have requested an arrest warrant for Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who organized a large-scale rally in downtown Seoul on the 3rd of last month.

According to the police on the 6th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's July 3 Illegal Demonstration Investigation Headquarters applied for a pre-arrest warrant against Chairman Yang, who is suspected of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

On the 3rd of last month, the KCTU held a nationwide workers' rally with an estimated 8,000 participants (according to the organizers) in the Jongno-gu area of Seoul. Subsequently, three participants were confirmed positive for COVID-19. The health authorities stated that these individuals were infected locally, not at the rally.

The police requested Chairman Yang to appear for questioning at the Jongno Police Station three times?on the 4th, 9th, and 16th of last month?but he refused. When Chairman Yang continued to refuse to appear, the police applied for an arrest warrant, which was reportedly rejected by the prosecution. Chairman Yang voluntarily appeared at the Jongno Police Station on the 4th of this month and was questioned for about five hours and thirty minutes.