Seoul police on Sunday arrested Han Sang-kyun, leader of the nation’s second-largest umbrella labor union, on charges of leading what the police call illegal protests.

Han, who leads the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, had been under police interrogation since Friday for his alleged involvement in multiple antigovernment rallies, including those on Nov. 14. He has so far exercised his right to remain silent, investigators said.

The court issued the arrest warrant on grounds that the investigators have verified the cited offense, which calls for the need to arrest Han. The charges against Han include disrupting traffic, hosting banned rallies, protesting in an unpermitted area, damaging public property and disobeying the order to disperse the rallies.

Investigators did not apply a sedition charge, which they had been considering against the embattled activist. Members of an assembly that leads to violence, threat or destruction of property can be charged with sedition, and can face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of 15 million won ($12,700).

Police officials said they excluded sedition charges for now because it is difficult to prove, but added they are reviewing related laws and past cases to see if pursuing the charge is still an option.

But the progressive civic groups ― including social organization of progressive lawyers Minbyun ― pointed out that the last known case to be ruled guilty of sedition by a local court was in 1987, accusing the police of dragging out the antiquated clause in criminal law solely to publish Han.

Police claimed to have found evidence that the KCTU and other organizations prearranged violent and illegal rallies for Nov.14. But the KCTU has said the police accusations were absurd, and that Han is refusing to testify in protest. 


By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)