The Gyeongnam Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has voiced opposition after police launched an investigation into the inscription of the word "insurrection" on a stone monument featuring former President Yoon Suk-yeol's handwritten calligraphy, which is installed in the front yard of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters.
On the afternoon of the 21st, the KCTU Gyeongnam Headquarters held a press conference in front of the monument commemorating the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Changwon National Industrial Complex at the Gyeongnam headquarters of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation. The union condemned the police, stating, "The recent initiation of an investigation into the KCTU Gyeongnam Headquarters on charges of property damage to the calligraphy monument is an anti-historical act that disregards the voices of the public and citizens."
The union further demanded, "Remove the monument bearing the handwritten calligraphy of the impeached Yoon Suk-yeol immediately."
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Gyeongnam Headquarters is urging the police to stop the investigation related to the removal and damage of the handwritten calligraphy monument by former President Yoon in the front yard of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters. Photo by Lee Seryung
The KCTU Gyeongnam Headquarters added, "Criticism, ridicule, and protest by citizens against acts of insurrection are protected by Article 21 of the Constitution as freedom of expression and as an exercise of the right to political resistance. These are essential elements supporting democracy," and continued, "Even if the act constitutes the elements of property damage under the Criminal Act, it should be recognized as not illegal, as it does not violate social norms."
On this day, the KCTU removed the covering cloth and tape from the monument and staged a protest action that appeared to break the stone monument using hammers and other tools.
The monument, inscribed with the phrase "Changwon National Industrial Complex, the cradle of an industrial powerhouse," written in former President Yoon's own hand, was erected on April 24 of last year in Seongsan-gu, Changwon, Gyeongnam, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Changwon National Industrial Complex.
On December 3 of last year, the KCTU criticized former President Yoon, who declared martial law, as the "insurrection president." On December 10, the union spray-painted the word "insurrection" in black on the monument.
At the time, the union stated, "The majority of the public sees President Yoon Suk-yeol as the main perpetrator of insurrection, and this was an expression of anger against the illegal martial law," adding, "We have recorded in history that Yoon Suk-yeol is the insurrection president."
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Gyeongnam Headquarters is staging a protest action in the front yard of the Korea Industrial Complex Corporation Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters, appearing to break the stone monument inscribed with former President Yoon's handwritten calligraphy. Photo by Lee Seryoung
In response, Changwon City covered the monument with a black cloth and has been deliberating on how to handle the monument.
The Changwon Jungbu Police Station, which is in charge of the case, recently launched an investigation into the damage to the monument and is reviewing whether to apply charges of property damage.
The city plans to decide whether to restore, preserve, or otherwise handle the monument after reviewing both the results of the police investigation and the ongoing trial regarding former President Yoon's alleged insurrection charges.
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