For the last 9 years under the two former presidents of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, a total of 6,259,690.000 won(US$ 5,589,000) was claimed for damages and seized provisionally by the state to the individuals or organizations that organized the assemblies and demonstrations to exercise their civil and basic labor rights
The amount claimed or seized by the state ranges from 12,590,000 won(US$ 11,200) at the lowest to 3,448,290,000 won(US$ 3,078,000) at the highest. It is criticized that the former conservative governments used the claim for damages and provisional seizures to restrict the exercise of basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
President Moon Jae-in made an election pledge during his election campaign that he would limit the abuse of indiscriminate claim for damages and provisional seizures in the cases of legitimate exercise of the right to act collectively.
reported by Lee Eun-young
translated by Kim Sung-jin