33 Tower Crane Operators Charged with Monthly Bribe Extortion Transferred to Prosecution

Thirty-three tower crane operators who extorted monthly fees from construction companies have been referred to the prosecution.

The Violent Crime Investigation Unit of the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 20th that it had sent 33 individuals, including union executives and operators belonging to the Tower Crane Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, to prosecution without detention on charges of joint extortion and joint coercion.

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They are accused of forcibly demanding or extorting monthly fees (illegal kickbacks at construction sites) totaling 1,077,890,000 KRW from seven sites of four construction companies between September 2019 and October 2021.

The accused are reported to be exercising their right to remain silent, while the union claims that the monthly fees are of a bonus nature and denies the allegations.

The police initially investigated 36 people related to this case. Among them, they attempted to secure the custody of one union executive with serious charges, but failed to obtain an arrest warrant due to a court dismissal.

For three union members, the police decided not to prosecute due to lack of evidence and other reasons.

A Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency official emphasized, "We plan to conduct a thorough investigation into extortion, violence, and possible involvement of organized crime groups at the construction sites."

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