Threatening Construction Company to Disrupt Work and Forcing Union Member Hiring
Also Accused of Extorting 94.12 Million Won
Prosecutors: "Will Decide on Appeal After Reviewing Judgment"
Judge Kim Bong-jun of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 on the 11th sentenced Lee Mo (50), chairman of the Korean Union Construction Labor Union, and Shin Mo (38), head of the union's Gyeongin Western Headquarters, who were indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (joint extortion and joint coercion), to 2 years and 6 months in prison with a 4-year probation. The Korean Union Construction Labor Union is an industrial union under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions. They were charged with forcing hundreds of union members to be hired at construction sites in the metropolitan area and extorting tens of millions of won from construction companies.
From October 2020 to October last year, they allegedly threatened to disrupt construction by holding rallies or filing complaints at 20 construction sites in Seoul against 18 construction companies, coercing them to employ 917 workers. They are also accused of extorting a total of 94.12 million won from the construction companies, reportedly under the pretext of wages for workers exempted from working hours.
The court stated that although their crimes had a negative impact on society and were highly condemnable, since the incidents occurred in the process of the union trying to expand union member employment and most victims did not wish to press charges, they were sentenced to prison with probation. The prosecution said, "We will decide whether to appeal after reviewing the judgment."
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