'48 Members of Cargo Solidarity Union Charged with Obstruction of Business Following Hite Jinro Headquarters Occupation' Transferred to Prosecutors

Non-Detained Transfer on Charges of Trespassing Specially Designated Buildings and Obstruction of Business

The Cargo Solidarity of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally on the 18th in front of the Hite Jinro headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, urging the withdrawal of collective layoffs and damage compensation lawsuits by Hite Jinro. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Forty-eight members of the HiteJinro branch of the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union, who occupied and protested at the HiteJinro headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, have been referred to the prosecution.

On the 13th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul announced that it had sent 48 union members to the prosecution without detention on charges of special trespassing and obstruction of business. Since no flammable materials such as thinner were found at the scene and the incident did not occur during the assembly, charges of attempted arson of a building and violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act were dismissed as 'no charges.'

They occupied and staged a sit-in at the HiteJinro headquarters from August 16 to September 9, demanding reinstatement of dismissed workers and realistic transportation fees. In response, HiteJinro filed complaints against the union members in August on charges of obstruction of business, special trespassing and refusal to leave, attempted arson of a building, and violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

Meanwhile, the occupation protest at the HiteJinro headquarters ended after 25 days with a labor-management agreement. The agreement included withdrawal of the damage claim lawsuit and provisional seizure filed by HiteJinro, withdrawal of complaints and accusations, and reinstatement of union members. However, since the charges filed by the company did not fall under the category of offenses that require the victim's withdrawal of charges, the police investigation continued.