Democratic Labor Union Executive Who Assaulted Police Officer Trying to Stop Smoke Bomb Receives Suspended Sentence

Obstruction of Official Duties Charge

The national director of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who was accused of assaulting a police officer trying to prevent the use of smoke bombs at a rally, was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

Participants are shouting slogans at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rally calling for the halt of the amendment to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 7th, Hong Da-seon, judge of the Criminal Division 4 at the Seoul Western District Court, announced that A (48), the KCTU director who was charged with assaulting a police officer (obstruction of official duties) while trying to prevent the use of smoke bombs at a rally, was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year suspension.

A is accused of grabbing the vest of police officer B (26) and striking him on the head with his right hand when B approached to stop participants from igniting red smoke bombs that had not been agreed upon in advance during the 'Resolution Rally to Achieve Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act' held in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at around 3:15 p.m. on September 16 last year.

The court explained the sentencing, stating, "The defendant, as an executive of the KCTU, forcibly used smoke bombs, turning the rally violent, and assaulted a police officer who was performing legitimate official duties, thereby undermining the functions of the state and the establishment of legal order. The sentencing considered the circumstances of the crime, the nature of the use of force, and the degree of obstruction of official duties comprehensively."