South Korea: Trade union leaders sentenced

In South Korea the Court of First Instance passed judgement on three detained trade union leaders of the Pohang Branch of the Korean Plant Construction Workers’ Union (KPCWU). The leaders were issued with warrant of custody in January 2017, on charges of obstruction of traffic, obstruction of business and violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act 2012.

KPCWU Branch President Jwa Cheol-seok was sentenced to one year’s servitude, Branch Senior Vice President Yu Yeong-guk was sentenced to ten months imprisonment and Branch General Secretary Hwang Bong-u has been sentenced to ten months imprisonment with a suspension of execution for two years.

“The BWI has always maintained that these charges are politically-motivated attacks on the South Korean trade union movement”, said BWI General Secretary. “We are calling on South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in to immediately issue an Order nullifying the KPCWU official’s unjust sentences, and begin breaking with the Park era by respecting trade union rights!”