'Illegal Assembly' Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, First Trial Today... "Defendant Present"

Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The first trial of Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who is accused of leading illegal assemblies in downtown Seoul amid the spread of COVID-19, is set to take place.

According to the court on the 19th, Judge Jeong Jong-geon of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 9 will conduct the first hearing of Chairman Yang, who was indicted while in custody on charges including violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, at 11:10 a.m. As this is a formal trial, Chairman Yang is required to appear in court in person.

Previously, Chairman Yang was prosecuted for leading several illegal protests from May to July (violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and general traffic obstruction). Notably, approximately 8,000 people attended the National Workers' Rally held in downtown Seoul on July 3, according to the organizers' estimates.

The police secured his custody on the 2nd of last month, 20 days after the court issued an arrest warrant, and transferred him to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. The prosecution indicted Chairman Yang in custody on the 15th of last month.

Meanwhile, the KCTU is preparing a large-scale general strike scheduled for the 20th, aiming for the participation of 1.1 million union members. Chairman Yang also said, "Please prepare diligently for the October general strike," while boarding the police escort vehicle.