Former Labor Leader Convicted for Illegal Protests
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Lee Seok-haeng, 52, former head of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for three years for organizing illegal demonstrations against U.S. beef imports in July and other violent rallies, said Seoul Central District Court Thursday.
He was arrested last December on charges of taking an active role in organizing illegal rallies. Lee is also accused of directing KCTU members to go on strike, calling for the renegotiation of the U.S. beef import deal, which was illegal as it failed to gain support from more than 50 percent of union members.
After being sought by police since last July, Lee hid in a Seoul temple before escaping from it in late October, outwitting police surrounding it.
He was caught last December at an apartment in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Lee resigned from his position last month over a sexual assault scandal at his union.