ACTU joins calls for release of Korean Union leaders

9 February 2018

The ACTU has written to South Korean President Moon Jae-In to request that the Korean Government release of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions President Han Sang-gyun and drop charges against former KCTU General Secretary Lee Young-joo.

Quotes attributable to ACTU Assistant Secretary Scott Connolly:

• The imprisonment of Han Sang-gyun for exercising his democratic right to protest and freedom of assembly has lasted nearly two years and is in clear violation of his human rights. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has stated that imprisonment is arbitrary and called for his release.
• On new year’s eve last year Lee Young-joo was arrested while in hospital after a 10-day hunger strike at the headquarters of the ruling Democratic Party.
• Both Han and Lee have been charged for their role in a protest on 14 November 2015.
• The ILO Committee on Freedom of Association has asked the South Korean government to take any measures in its power for the release of Han, as well as all other trade unionists for organisation of and participation in the demonstration on 14 November 2015.
• The ACTU joins the calls of the international union movement to release these prisoners and end attacks on the liberty of union leaders in Korea.