Violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act
Summons and Investigation to Continue Until Early Next Month
Regarding the clash between police and participants, including officials from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), at the 'Yoon Seok-yeol Regime Resignation Rally,' the police are conducting consecutive investigations of union officials.
On the afternoon of the 9th, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) shouted slogans at the 2024 National Workers' Rally and 1st Resignation General Strike held around Sungnyemun in Seoul, commemorating the spirit of Jeon Tae-il. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 27th, the KCTU announced that summons investigations of the union's organizational chairpersons are expected to continue until early next month. According to the KCTU, from today until the 4th of next month, investigations of the Public Transport Workers' Union chairperson, the Plant Workers' Union chairperson, the Construction Industry Federation chairperson, and the Metal Workers' Union chairperson are scheduled consecutively at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Crime Investigation Unit. They are suspected of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and causing general traffic obstruction.
The police are also investigating general rally participants, not just the union executives. The Seoul Namdaemun Police Station stated that based on evidence analysis, they have sent police appearance requests to 20 rally participants. The number of investigation targets is expected to increase depending on further evidence analysis.
On the 22nd, Yang Kyung-soo, the KCTU chairman, appeared before the police. It is reported that the police investigated the circumstances of the physical clashes and the possibility of prior planning by the KCTU leadership. Before appearing, Chairman Yang claimed, "It was the police who blocked the march of rally participants, and it was also the police who caused the violence and conflicts," adding, "We are not at fault."
Earlier, on the 9th, the police arrested 11 participants on the spot on charges including obstruction of official duties during the KCTU's 'First General Rally for the Resignation of the Yoon Seok-yeol Regime' held on Sejong-daero in front of Sungnyemun, Jung-gu, Seoul. According to the KCTU, 10 of them were union members, and one was a citizen.
The police applied for arrest warrants for four of the KCTU union members on charges of obstruction of official duties and violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, but the court dismissed the warrants, stating that "it is difficult to recognize the necessity of detention."
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