Police to Summon Yang Kyung-soo, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, on the 27th for Violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act

Chairman Yang: "The People Exercised Their Right to Resist"

Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), is being investigated by the police on charges of organizing an illegal rally in downtown Seoul.

Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, is delivering the opening speech at the workers and citizens rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol and the dissolution of the People Power Party, held on the afternoon of the 12th at Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 26th, the KCTU announced that Chairman Yang was summoned to the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul on the 27th on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act. It was reported that Yang expressed his intention to appear. In a press release, Yang stated, "While they cannot even arrest the ringleaders of a rebellion, only the KCTU, which calls for punishing criminals, is being summoned," and added, "We exercised the people's right to resist against a president who denies the basic order of the constitution."

The KCTU is accused of holding a 'Workers and Citizens Rally' on December 3rd in Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, condemning the emergency martial law declared on December 3rd and demanding the resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol, and then marching near Namyeong Samgeori in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. They initially intended to head to the Yongsan Presidential Office but were blocked by the police because their route overlapped with that of a conservative group’s march. Some participants crossed police barricades, occupied lanes, and engaged in various scuffles with the police. Approximately 1,000 attendees (unofficial police estimate) also broke through police lines and occupied the road in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, continuing their rally.

The police also summoned Cho Yong-hyun, KCTU’s organization director, and Lee Won-jae, organization director of the KCTU Metal Workers' Union, along with Chairman Yang. The police are investigating whether the actions of the rally participants were carried out under the instructions of the 'upper echelon,' including Chairman Yang.