Labor and Civil Society: "Arrest and Detain Yoon Seok-yeol, the Chief of Rebellion" (Comprehensive)

Minju Nochong "Social Reform Through the Power of Citizens"
Hanguk Nochong "Must Be Held Accountable Before the Court of Law"

Labor groups and civil society urged the prompt arrest and investigation of the traitors after the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 14th.

President Yoon Suk-yeol. Photo by Yonhap News

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) stated in a press release that day, “The ringleader of the rebellion, Yoon Seok-yeol, must be immediately arrested and detained,” and added, “Chu Kyung-ho, former floor leader of the People Power Party, who premeditated and abetted the rebellion, should be investigated as a participant in the rebellion, and procedures to dissolve the People Power Party should be prepared.” They also emphasized, “The accomplices of the rebellion must be identified and their crimes revealed.”

The KCTU said, “Impeachment is not the end. We must open a society where the basic labor rights of all workers are guaranteed, including the revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act and the application of the Labor Standards Act to workplaces with fewer than five employees.” They added, “We must realize a grand social reform through the power of workers and citizens who blocked the unconstitutional emergency martial law and opened the square for the impeachment of the traitor Yoon Seok-yeol.”

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) said, “This is a natural result reflecting the will and anger of the people who cannot tolerate a person who committed treason in the presidential office even for a moment,” and stated, “Not only the Constitutional Court’s ruling to finalize the impeachment but also many tasks remain before us to restore shaken democracy and take a step forward.”

The FKTU added, “The traitors and their accomplices must be brought not only before the court of law but also before the court of history and the court of public opinion to be punished so that such incidents never happen again.” They emphasized, “Excessive power granted to those in power and power institutions must be taken away. The power of the people must be strengthened so that any force challenging democracy can be directly removed.”

After the impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk-yeol was passed in the second impeachment vote, participants gathered in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, cheered and danced. Photo by Heo Young-han

People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) said, “This vote in the National Assembly is a natural result responding to the national demand that the president’s execution of office cannot be tolerated for even one more day,” and stated, “It was created by the resolute will of the people who cannot recognize as the head of state a person who threw away the democracy and constitutional order protected with blood for his own power and safety.”

The PSPD added, “This is only the beginning of the judgment against the president and the pro-rebellion forces. The Constitutional Court must respond to the people’s demand by concluding the trial and dismissing Yoon Seok-yeol as soon as possible.” They also said, “The National Assembly and investigative agencies should thoroughly investigate the facts of the rebellion acts and criminal activities of the president and the participants. Considering the gravity of the crimes and the possibility of evidence destruction, it is appropriate to conduct a detention investigation of the president.”

The Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) stated, “Strict judgment according to the Constitution and law must be made against President Yoon and those responsible. To this end, Acting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo should promptly appoint the three vacant Constitutional Court justices to normalize the functions of the Constitutional Court.” They added, “The Constitutional Court must thoroughly review the impeachment motion, including the substantive and procedural legitimacy of the martial law declaration and the president’s ability to perform duties.”

The CCEJ said, “Judicial institutions such as the prosecution, police, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials must immediately take detention measures to prevent the destruction of evidence by the president and those responsible, and start investigations to uncover the full details of the premeditation and execution of martial law and the deployment of military forces.” They also stated, “The special prosecutor must promptly begin investigations to hold the related responsible parties strictly accountable under the law.”