Democratic Labor Union Construction Union "Executive to Appear Before Police on the 1st of Next Month"

The Construction Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced on the 24th that two executive members, including Jang Ok-gi, chairman of the Construction Workers' Union, will appear before the police on the 1st of next month in relation to the 1-night, 2-day rally held in downtown Seoul.

Earlier, the police had notified three executives of the Construction Workers' Union and two executives of the KCTU, who organized the rallies on the 16th and 17th of this month respectively, to appear for investigation by the 25th.

The KCTU stated, "The union leaders are currently conducting memorial events for the Yanghwa-dong martyrs, and since there were no illegal reasons for the rally at that time, we requested a schedule adjustment," adding, "There was no violence or friction with public authorities during the rally, nor was there any noise caused by the use of loudspeakers at night."

The KCTU and the Construction Workers' Union held general strike rallies in downtown areas such as Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 16th and 17th of last month. Participants camped overnight on the night of the 16th at Seoul Plaza and nearby sidewalks, with some consuming alcohol.

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, held a briefing where he declared the rally illegal and announced an investigation into the organizers.

The police considered the continued rally after the dispersal order was ignored and past the reported time of 5 p.m. as a violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act. They also decided to apply charges of obstruction of general traffic to some participants who occupied the road.