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Labor union leader leaves Buddhist temple, turns himself in

December 9, 2015

Han Sang-gyun, head of an umbrella union, and Ven. Dobeop walk together down a path at the Jogye Temple in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2015, as temple officials make way for them. Han, who has been taking shelter at the temple since Nov. 16, turned himself in to police who sought to arrest him on suspicion of organizing violent mass rallies. (Yonhap)

SEOUL (Yonhap) — The head of South Korea’s second-largest umbrella labor union who is suspected of leading violent rallies turned himself in to police Thursday, ending a 24-day standoff with police.

Han Sang-gyun stepped out of Jogye Temple where he had been holing up since Nov. 16, two days after he allegedly orchestrated a massive anti-government protest that led to a clash with police.

He was immediately whisked away by police at the main gate of the chief temple of South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect in central Seoul. Police officers had surrounded the temple to prevent Han from fleeing ever since he took sanctuary there.

Han, the head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), is on the wanted list for allegedly organizing several illegal and violent rallies.

Police had originally issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Han on Tuesday to voluntarily turn himself in by 4 p.m. Wednesday, warning that otherwise they would force their way into the temple.

Tensions escalated as about 1,000 police officers surrounded the temple to arrest Han, while some Buddhists and civic groups voiced their opposition or support for the police action.

Still, police postponed the operation Wednesday evening when the executive chief of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order vowed to resolve the issue of Han’s fate by noon on Thursday.

The KCTU said in a statement that Han will surrender to police “in an effort to continue the fight against labor reform,” and vowed to go on a strike next Wednesday.