By Kang Shin-who
Staff reporter
The Seoul Central District Court will simultaneously deliver its verdict on 136 unionized teachers and civil servants, indicted for illegal political activities.
The court split the 272 teachers and civil servants being charged into two groups of 136. It is unprecedented that a group of more than 100 accused to appear in a courtroom for trial and receive a verdict at the same time.
They are accused of paying dues to the Democratic Labor Party. Laws on civil servants ban them from taking part in any political activities.
The simultaneous trial is to keep the ruling consistent. The prosecution filed charges with the Seoul Central District Court in early May.
When the civil servants and public school teachers were indicted for signing anti-government statements, some courts ruled in favor of the unionized civil servants and other courts found them guilty. The hearing will give an opportunity to all the accused to make final statements.