Four Union Members' Warrants Dismissed with "No Room to Dispute Illegality"
The police are expected to continue a rigorous investigation into the members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) who were arrested on the spot for violent acts during the 'First General Rally for the Resignation of the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration'.
Kim Bong-sik, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, explained at a regular press briefing on the 18th, "The arrest warrants for four KCTU members were dismissed because it was difficult to recognize the necessity of detention, given that they have fixed residences," adding, "Since the charges are acknowledged and most related evidence has been collected, we will proceed with the investigation based on evidence and legal principles, including analysis of congestion data." He continued, "Additionally, we are conducting pre-investigation (internal inquiry) on seven executive members, including Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the KCTU."
The police had previously applied for arrest warrants for six of the eleven KCTU members arrested on the 11th for leaving the designated rally area and assaulting police officers during the rally demanding the resignation of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. However, the court dismissed the arrest warrants, stating, "At this stage, it is difficult to recognize the grounds, necessity, and proportionality for detention."
Regarding the controversy over 'excessive suppression' that arose in some quarters, Kim drew a clear line. He said, "The rally site was narrow at the time, and the police judged that it would be a safety issue if many people entered a narrow section all at once, so they insisted on entering sequentially. The organizers, however, insisted that all participants should enter the rally site at once, which seems to have caused friction." He emphasized, "We prepared in advance, keeping in mind the possibility of clashes or the rally turning into an illegal assembly. The police prepare different response measures depending on the nature of the rally."
Furthermore, he clearly stated the intention to maintain a strict stance against large-scale illegal rallies in the future. Commissioner Kim said, "Lawful rallies are a constitutional right, and we will thoroughly guarantee them," but added, "Since the peaceful living rights of ordinary citizens and their minimum right to traffic movement are also important rights, we will maintain a strict response policy against illegal rallies."
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