For the Korean Church, there is too much violence in society, a balance is needed
Seoul (AsiaNews) – The arrest of union leader Han Sang-gyun "highlights certain critical situations in South Korean society. The use of violence is never right, and both parties use methods that belong to the past. The Jubilee of Mercy should help the country find a balance,” an anonymous Church source said AsiaNews.
The latter was referring to a recent police raid against Seoul’s Jogyesa Temple, where a trade union leader had been holed up for nearly a month. Korean Confederation of Trade Unions President Han was wanted for his alleged involvement in organising anti-government protests had that turned violent last month in the South Korean capital.
On 14 November, when the last incident occurred, he sought and obtained sanctuary at a Buddhist temple with the resident monks trying to mediate the issue peacefully.
Today more than 2,000 police agents surrounded the temple. Han, accompanied by a monk, turned himself into the authorities.
“Let's destroy the attempts to worsen labour laws,” an emotional Han shouted, shortly before he stepped outside the temple's main gate and was taken away by police in handcuffs.
He called for a general strike starting next Wednesday. Another large general demonstration against the president is planned for 19 December.
Anti-government forces have been protesting the president's proposal to rewrite labour laws so companies would have more freedom to fire workers and replace them with temporary employees.
The Catholic Church "has always and clearly defended workers' rights and freedom of expression,” the source told AsiaNews. “The government has certainly used a heavy hand, clamping down hard. This makes you wonder and worry. However, we must be careful and calmly assess individual situations.”
“In this case,” he went on to say, “the union used non-peaceful methods and went about it politically the wrong way. Certainly, everyone loses in this situation. Let us hope that the mercy preached by Pope Francis brings greater serenity to the country."
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