Yang Kyung-su, Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), was summarily indicted on charges of committing illegal acts during a rally condemning the Dec. 3 martial law and demanding the resignation of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Chief Prosecutor So Jae-hwan) said on the 30th that it had summarily indicted Chairperson Yang and a person surnamed Cho, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) organization director, on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and obstructing general traffic, seeking a fine of 2 million won. On the same charges, a person surnamed Lee, also a KCTU organization director, was summarily indicted with a fine of 1 million won.
A summary indictment is a procedure in which a prosecutor, recognizing criminal suspicion but deeming the case minor, petitions the court to impose a fine or similar penalty instead of a full trial. If the court finds a summary order inappropriate, or if the defendant objects, the case can proceed to a formal trial.
On Dec. 12, 2024, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) clashed with police trying to block them after their "workers and citizens rally" demanding the former president's resignation on Sejong-daero in Jung-gu, Seoul, when their route overlapped with a conservative group's march as they headed toward the presidential office in Yongsan.
At the time, some participants were found to have continued an illegal rally by breaking through police lines and occupying lanes in front of the Hannam-dong official residence used by the former president and spouse. Chairperson Yang and others are suspected of leading this rally.