Two Metalworkers' Union Officials' Arrest Warrants Dismissed for 'Assembly Report Scope Violation'

"No Risk of Evidence Tampering or Flight"

Two executives of the Metal Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who were accused of occupying lanes beyond the reported range during a rally near the Presidential Office, had their arrest warrants dismissed.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Shin Han-mi, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Western District Court, on the 25th decided not to approve the arrest warrants for Lee Won-jae, the Metal Workers' Union organization director, and one other person, who were charged with violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, stating that "there is no risk of evidence tampering or flight."

According to the police, on the 20th of last month, while marching on two lanes toward the War Memorial near the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, they are accused of unlawfully occupying lanes beyond the reported range. During this process, a physical altercation occurred with police officers trying to stop them, and 14 union members were arrested on the spot.