Police Summon Yang Kyung-soo, Minnochoong Chairman, on the 4th for 'Forcing Assembly'

Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, is speaking at the "KCTU Position Announcement Press Conference Related to the July 3 National Workers' Rally" held at the KCTU office in Seoul on the morning of the 27th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), is scheduled to be summoned for questioning on the 4th regarding the National Workers' Rally held in downtown Seoul on the 3rd of last month.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's July 3 Illegal Protest Investigation Headquarters announced on the 2nd, "Chairman Yang will be questioned at the Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the afternoon of the 4th," adding, "If Chairman Yang appears, we will conduct the investigation promptly and strictly in accordance with the law and principles."

The KCTU held a National Workers' Rally with an estimated 8,000 participants (according to the organizers) around Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd of last month. Subsequently, three participants tested positive for COVID-19.

The police requested Chairman Yang to appear at Jongno Police Station three times on the 4th, 9th, and 16th of last month, but his side did not comply by the final deadline of the 23rd. Consequently, the police applied for an arrest warrant for Chairman Yang, but it is reported that the prosecution rejected it. Chairman Yang reportedly submitted a postponement request to the police, expressing his intention to appear in early August.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency formed a special investigation headquarters consisting of 52 members, led by the head of the investigation department, 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. Following the first summons and questioning of a KCTU vice chairman on the 20th of last month, a total of 15 people have been questioned by the 30th.