Labor and Civic Groups Demand Release of Union Members Who Protested Against Korea-Japan Summit

Demand to Stop Suppression of Legitimate Expression of Opinion

Amid the issuance of arrest warrants for union members who protested against the Korea-Japan summit, labor groups and civic organizations strongly opposed the move.

On the 9th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and civic groups held a press conference at 1 p.m. in front of the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency to condemn the issuance of arrest warrants and demand the release of union members.
[Photo by KCTU]

On the 9th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and civic groups held a press conference at 1 p.m. in front of the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency, condemning the issuance of arrest warrants for the union members and calling for their release.

They stated, "In the face of the humiliating and pro-Japanese, traitorous Korea-Japan summit that was announced, enraged workers and citizens demanded 'Resignation of pro-Japanese traitor Yoon Seok-yeol, opposition to the Korea-Japan summit' by carrying out urgent protest actions and candlelight vigils. During this process, two KCTU union members were violently arrested by the police."

They continued, "As workers and people of this land, expressing opinions and resisting is a constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and a just outcry for justice. The Yoon Seok-yeol administration responded to the people's legitimate protest actions and expressions of opinion with an outdated measure of issuing arrest warrants. Ignoring the voices of tens of millions of citizens condemning the humiliating Korea-Japan relations and attempting to gag and suppress all workers and people opposing the government's actions, we cannot contain our anger toward the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," they argued.

Finally, these organizations demanded that the government stop suppressing the legitimate expressions of workers and people, apologize for the police's excessive response, dismiss the arrest warrants against the KCTU union members and immediately release them, and call for the resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

Earlier, on the 6th, the KCTU and civic groups such as the Korea-Japan History Justice and Peace Action held rallies near the Yongsan Presidential Office and other locations from the morning, opposing the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and the Korea-Japan summit.

The Jongno Police Station in Seoul also arrested two KCTU union members at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act. They are accused of leaving the designated protest area and staging a surprise protest by climbing the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin.