Police Conduct Second Investigation of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Construction Union Officials Over 'Recruitment and Bribery Demands'

by Choi Taewon

Published 12 Apr.2023 15:16(KST)

The police are once again summoning and investigating executives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) National Construction Workers' Union regarding illegal activities at construction sites.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Violent Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 12th at 2 p.m. that they summoned Kim, head of the KCTU National Construction Workers' Union Northern Metropolitan Area Headquarters, and Moon, secretary-general of the Seoul-Gyeonggi Northern Construction Branch, for questioning as suspects. They are accused of joint extortion and joint coercion under the Act on the Punishment of Violence.

Earlier, on the morning of the 6th, the police conducted the first suspect interrogation of Head Kim and Secretary-General Moon. However, they exercised their right to remain silent during the investigation, which reportedly ended after an hour.

They are suspected of forcing construction companies to hire union members at 16 construction sites in the metropolitan area from August 2020 to February last year. They are also accused of directing or conspiring with subordinate organizations to collect advance fees and collective agreement fees.

During the detention investigation of Woo, the southern district chief of the Seoul-Gyeonggi Northern Construction Branch, the police reportedly detected signs of involvement by higher-level organizations and investigated whether Kim and Moon had instructed such actions. Woo is accused of extorting approximately 130 million won from construction company officials.