Labor activist draws three-year jail term for attempted rape

SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Friday sentenced a former senior
member of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the more militant of
the nation's two umbrella unions, to three years in jail on charges of attempting
to rape a female member.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted the defendant, identified by his last
name Kim, on charges of attempting to rape the female KCTU member, who provided a
hideout to former KCTU chief Lee Suk-haeng late last year. Lee was wanted by
police at the time on charges of organizing illegal protests against U.S. beef
imports.
Four other former members of KCTU, who were also charged with helping Lee hide
from police, were given fines ranging from 3 million won (US$2,440) to 5 million
won. Prosecutors decided not to indict the female member, who was also accused of
sheltering Lee, saying she had been traumatized by the attack.
Lee and other top-ranking KCTU officials resigned in February after apologizing
to the victim and vowing to overhaul the labor group's internal organization.
The confederation admitted that it initially downplayed the case as an isolated
incident. Lee was arrested late last year but was released in March on probation.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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