Four Arrest Warrants for KCTU Members in 'Illegal Assembly' Rejected by Court: "No Need for Detention"

Police Focus on Executive Investigation Amid Suspicion of Organized Crime

On the 12th, the arrest warrants for four members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) accused of assaulting police and occupying lanes during a large-scale labor rally held in downtown Seoul were dismissed.

The Seoul Central District Court stated on the same day, after pre-arrest detention hearings for Park and three others, that it was difficult to recognize the grounds and necessity for detention.

Regarding Park and Kang, the court acknowledged that sufficient evidence had been collected, and since they have fixed residences and family members to support, there was no concern of flight risk, thus denying the necessity of detention. For Hwang and another Kang, the court also judged that considering the circumstances of the crime, the degree of obstruction of official duties, and social ties, the conditions for detention were not met.

Seoul Central District Court. Yonhap News

They are accused of pushing police officers and assaulting them during the "National Workers' Rally and 1st Resignation General Protest" held around Sungnyemun in Seoul on the 9th, as well as refusing orders to disperse and demands for correction. The police arrested 11 individuals involved in illegal acts at the rally and applied for arrest warrants for four of them, but the court judged that as simple participants in the rally, there were insufficient grounds for detention.

With the dismissal of all four arrest warrants, attention is turning to the police investigation direction toward the KCTU leadership. The police have suggested the possibility that this incident was a premeditated and organized act and have announced plans to investigate the executive members, including KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo. While the roles of union members involved in illegal acts on site were limited, if the executive branch had organized instructions or role assignments, the focus of the investigation is expected to be aligned accordingly.