Police Begin Forced Investigation Procedures Against Minju No Chong Chairman Yang Kyung-soo for 'Illegal Assembly'... Prosecution Rejects Arrest Warrant

On the afternoon of the 3rd, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions occupied the road at Jongno 3-ga, holding a nationwide workers' rally demanding a complete revision of the labor law. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The police have initiated compulsory investigation procedures against Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), in connection with the July 3 nationwide workers' rally led by the KCTU.

According to the police on the 29th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's July 3 Illegal Protest Investigation Headquarters recently applied for an arrest warrant for Chairman Yang, but it was rejected by the prosecution. It is reported that the prosecution made this decision considering that Chairman Yang's side submitted a request to postpone his appearance until early August.

The police requested Chairman Yang to appear at the Jongno Police Station in Seoul for questioning three times on the 4th, 9th, and 16th, but his side reportedly expressed willingness to appear in early August.

On the 3rd, the KCTU held a nationwide workers' rally with an estimated 8,000 participants (according to the organizers) in the Jongno district of Seoul. After the rally, three participants tested positive for COVID-19.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency formed a special investigation headquarters consisting of 52 members, led by the head of the investigation division, and has so far booked 23 people on charges including violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.