Construction Union Members Rally Against Expulsion Decision by Korea Federation of Trade Unions
Last year, on July 20, construction union members gathered in front of the Korea Federation of Trade Unions hall in Yeouido, Seoul, to protest the decision made by the federation to expel their union. This expulsion came as a result of a corruption case involving a sum of 1 billion won, which prompted the federation to take action against the Korea Construction Industry Union and Construction Workers Union.
However, it has now been revealed that the Korea Federation of Trade Unions, in fact, submitted a group petition to the court on behalf of their chairman, who was directly involved in the corruption case. This information was obtained by our newspaper on the 27th of last month. In their petition, the federation executives stated, “Although the defendant is under arrest, we are doing our best to assist the Construction and Industrial Workers Union in rejoining the Korea Federation of Trade Unions, in order to mend the damage caused to our union members.” They pleaded for mercy.
This petition was presented to the Daejeon District Court, Cheonan Branch, which served as the first trial court, in December of last year. A total of 20 individuals, including five executive members such as the Chairman of the Korean Federation Federation Kim Dong-myeong, former senior vice-chairman Kang Shin-pyo, former General Secretary Lee Dong-ho, former vice-chairman Heo Kwon, and standing vice-chairman Kim Hyun-joong, as well as key industrial union chairmen and regional chairmen, including Korea Financial Industry Union Chairman Park Hong-bae, wrote individual petitions to the court.
In their petitions, they appealed for leniency, emphasizing that “the defendant deeply regrets his mistakes” and “the defendant played a crucial role in establishing economic independence for the construction industry union.”
The arrested chairman of the construction industry union, Jin Byeong-jun, was indicted in June of last year for embezzling approximately 1 billion won, including union dues. Consequently, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions expelled the Construction Workers Union from the federation in July of the same year. Jin was expelled on grounds of corruption but later filed a petition with the court, seeking clemency.
In the first trial held last December, Chairman Jin was sentenced to four years in prison. In the second trial conducted last June, his sentence was increased to five years. He appealed against the judgment from the second trial, but the Supreme Court rejected it on the 27th, thereby upholding the judgment.
Meanwhile, as the trial was ongoing, it was discovered that former members of the Construction Workers’ Union had handed over 100 million won in cash to the then senior vice-chairman, Kang Shin-pyo, as an attempt to facilitate their union’s reinstatement into the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. This revelation sparked controversy, leading to the recent indictment of Senior Vice Chairman Kang on charges of breach of trust in relation to this case.
Members of construction unions hold a rally in front of the Korea Federation of Trade Unions hall in Yeouido, Seoul on July 20 last year, protesting against the decision of the Korea Federation of Trade Unions to expel the construction union. /News
It was later confirmed that the Korea Federation of Trade Unions, which had expelled the construction unions (Korea Construction Industry Union and Construction Workers Union) from the organization for carrying out a corruption case worth 1 billion won, had actually submitted a group petition to the court on behalf of the chairman of the construction union, who was in fact a party in question.
In the petition obtained by this newspaper on the 27th, the executives of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions said, “The defendant is under arrest, but we are doing our best to help the Construction and Industrial Workers Union to rejoin the Federation Korean Trade Unions. in order to repair the damage the defendant has caused to the members of the union.” appeal for mercy.
The petition was presented to the Daejeon District Court, Cheonan Branch, the first trial court, in December last year. A total of 20 people, including five executive members including the Chairman of the Korean Federation Federation Kim Dong-myeong, the then senior vice-chairman Kang Shin-pyo, the then General Secretary Lee Dong-ho, the vice-chairman who at the time Heo Kwon , and standing vice chairman Kim Hyun-joong, as well as key industrial union chairmen and regional chairmen, including Korea Financial Industry Union Chairman Park Hong-bae, each wrote a petition to the court and submitted to
In their petition, they appealed for leniency, saying, “The defendant is seriously reflecting on his mistakes,” and “The defendant played a significant role in laying the foundation for economic independence for the construction industry union.”
Jin Byeong-jun, chairman of the construction industry union, was arrested and indicted in June last year on charges of embezzling about 1 billion won, including union fees. For this reason, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions expelled the Construction Workers Union from the organization in July last year. He was expelled from the institution on the grounds of corruption, and later petitioned the court asking for mercy.
Chairman Jin was sentenced to four years in prison in the first trial last December and five years in prison in the second trial last June. He appealed against the judgment of the second trial, but the Supreme Court rejected it on the 27th, confirming the judgment of the second trial.
Meanwhile, while the trial was ongoing, it was confirmed that former members of the Construction Workers’ Union gave 100 million won in cash to the then senior vice-chairman, Kang Shin-pyo, in order to rejoin Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, sparking controversy. Senior Vice Chairman Kang was recently indicted on charges of breach of trust in this case.
#단독 #Korean #Confederation #Trade #Unions #files #collective #petition #demanding #chairman #construction #union #billion #won #corruption #scandal
