Police to seek ways to arrest labor union head

SEOUL (Yonhap) – The nation's police chief said Monday they will review diverse measures to arrest the head of a local umbrella labor group as he is unlikely to soon emerge from a major temple where he has taken shelter.

Han Sang-gyun, the head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), is on the wanted list for organizing illegal rallies. He attended a massive anti-government protest that led to a clash with police on Nov. 14 and took refuge in Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul as police began to tighten their siege.

"There is a number of ways, such as officially requesting to Jogye Temple that we be able to execute the warrant or mediate behind the scenes," National Police Agency Commissioner Kang Sin-myeong told reporters.

The remarks came hours after Han announced that he would stay there longer until the situation gets better.

"I cannot abandon the 20 million laborers' wish to stop the labor reform," Han said in a statement released Monday, seeking understanding on his position.

Currently police are surrounding the temple to prevent Han from fleeing. In the worst scenario, the police could force their way into the temple, the chief said.

The police, meanwhile, said they have arrested another KCTU member on suspicion of aiding Han's escape on Nov. 14.

The suspect, identified only by his surname Lee, is suspected of acting as a personal bodyguard of Han, along with at least eight others who have been placed in police custody for physically blocking police forces out from the Seoul Press Center where the labor leader held a press conference.

Along with the nine people already in police custody, 126 others have been booked on charges of aiding Han's escape or staging violent protests while an additional 454 have also been asked to face interrogation over similar charges.