The Supreme Court has upheld a 2 million won ($1,400) fine against Hyun Jung-hee, former chairman of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, for violating COVID-19 assembly restrictions.
The Supreme Court's Second Division, presided over by Justice Oh Kyung-mi, on Thursday affirmed the lower court's ruling against Hyun, who was indicted for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act.
Hyun was charged with organizing a rally of approximately 40 participants outside Kumho Asiana's headquarters in Seoul's Jongno District in March 2021. The demonstration called for the reinstatement of dismissed Asiana KO workers, defying government social distancing rules that limited gathering sizes during the pandemic.
At the time, the Seoul Metropolitan Government had banned gatherings of 10 or more people through official notice due to COVID-19 spread. Jongno District had also prohibited assemblies in the area surrounding Kumho Asiana's headquarters, including sidewalks, until the lifting of the "serious" infectious disease alert level.
Both the first and second instance courts imposed the 2 million won fine. The courts ruled that given Seoul's high foot traffic, the need for disease prevention measures was as significant as the need to guarantee freedom of assembly, justifying the restrictions. The courts also found that administrative authorities' judgment should be respected. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.