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KCTU members rally in protest of Japan’s plan to dump irradiated water from a nuclear power plant in Fukushima into the ocean, in front of the statue of King Sejong the Great in Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Aug. 12. (courtesy of KCTU)

Four Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) members were arrested by police around 1 pm on Saturday while staging a demonstration near the statue of King Sejong the Great on Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, carrying signs with messages opposing Japan’s dumping of radioactively contaminated water into the ocean.

Police said the four KCTU members, who included Vice President Kim Eun-hyeong, were arrested that day after being caught in the act of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

The four people arrested included two who climbed up on the King Sejong statue to wave flags and hold up a sign reading “No to Japanese nuclear contaminated water — protect our sea,” and two others who were stopped while attempting to climb up and join them.

After concluding a weeklong nationwide journey sharing a message of opposition to the dumping of radioactive water, the KCTU staged a disbandment ceremony on the steps in front of the Sejong Center at Gwanghwamun at 12:30 pm that day. The demonstration with the statue took place shortly after that ceremony.

By Kim Yoon-ju, staff reporter

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