Minju No Chong, Chairman Kim Myung-hwan's Guilty Verdict Called "A Court Harsh on Workers"

Kim Myung-hwan, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who was prosecuted on charges of leading illegal activities during a rally in front of the National Assembly, is leaving the court after the first trial sentencing at the Seoul Southern District Court in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 23rd. The court sentenced Chairman Kim to 2 years and 6 months in prison with a 4-year probation period. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on the 23rd expressed opposition to the court's guilty verdict against Chairman Kim Myung-hwan, who was indicted for leading illegal acts such as knocking down the National Assembly fence and assaulting police officers during a rally in front of the National Assembly in April last year, calling it a "harsh judgment."

In a statement released that day, the KCTU pointed out, "The court has recently handed down extremely harsh sentences to workers," adding, "In the appellate trial, it imposed heavier sentences and ordered imprisonment for Yuseong Corporation workers who suffered from union busting, and also ordered imprisonment for Jang Ok-gi, chairman of the Construction Industry Federation, who served one year for a rally in front of the National Assembly in 2017."

The KCTU claimed, "This ruling shows how harsh the law is toward workers and why judicial reform is necessary."

It continued, "The court showed leniency with light punishments for employers tried for union disruption charges and handed down rulings that the public cannot accept even for those involved in state and judicial corruption."

The KCTU clarified, "The struggle led by Chairman Kim was just," and added, "We will continue our efforts to protect the basic labor rights of low-wage, unorganized, and irregular workers."