Prosecutors drop charges against union member accused of clogging toilets during strike

Prosecutors have dropped charges against a union member accused of deliberately blocking toilets during a strike at Incheon International Airport. The Incheon District Prosecutors' Office announced on July 3 that it decided not to indict the individual, identified only as 'A', due to insufficient evidence.

'A', a member of the environmental branch of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union Incheon Airport branch, was accused of intentionally clogging airport restrooms during a 10-day strike that began on October 1 last year. The accusation alleged property damage and obstruction of business for Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC).

The IIAC filed the complaint after an employee witnessed 'A' using a restroom and subsequently found the toilet blocked. The case gained attention during a parliamentary audit of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, where IIAC president Lee Hak-jae stated his intention to request a police investigation, suspecting intentional action by a union member. Lawmaker Kim Eun-hye of the People Power Party also presented a photo of a clogged toilet, urging an investigation into potential organized collusion by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

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A used the restroom urgently at the time. The restrooms were not well managed in the first place during the strike period.

However, police investigations did not find direct evidence of organized criminal activity. The IIAC had also filed a complaint against the branch chief and the environmental branch chief, but these were not pursued. The primary obstacle to proving intent was the lack of CCTV footage in the restrooms. The prosecution relied solely on circumstantial evidence, including the testimony of the IIAC employee and a photograph of the clogged toilet.

'A's lawyer, Lee Seok from the Public Service and Transport Workers' Union Legal Affairs Office, argued that 'A' merely used the restroom urgently and that the facilities were poorly maintained during the strike. The IIAC maintained its stance, stating that its employee confirmed a blockage immediately after 'A's use. The corporation plans to decide on its next steps after reviewing the prosecution's decision.

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An IIAC employee was present at the scene and confirmed a toilet overflow due to blockage after A used the restroom.