Union protests construction site safety CCTV use for surveillance; company representative sued

The representative and employees of a construction company face legal action for allegedly using a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system, intended for construction site safety, to monitor and record union members during a protest. The National Construction Industry Union's Tower Crane Branch filed a lawsuit against the CEO and employees of Dongil Togeon at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on June 9, accusing them of illegally gathering evidence of the union's assembly.

According to Hankyoreh's reporting, the union held a protest on May 28 outside the residence of Dongil Togeon's CEO, demanding accountability from the main contractor for issues related to subcontractor hiring. Tower crane operators, though formally employed by equipment rental subcontractors, are effectively controlled by the main construction company. The union argued that the rental company violated collective agreements by refusing to hire workers, and they sought ethical management from the main contractor.

Conflict arose when the company installed a portable CCTV and a noise meter opposite the protest site. The portable CCTV, marked with "Purpose of filming: Site safety management" and "Filming area: Within safety management zone," was used alongside company employees taking photos and videos with their mobile phones. The union reported the actions to the police as illegal evidence gathering, leading to the protest's suspension.

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We know it's illegal, so don't worry about it.

The union filed the lawsuit on June 8, charging the CEO and employees with obstruction of business, interference with assembly, and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act. The lawsuit states that the company's "unauthorized surveillance and infringement of portrait rights" were reported to the police, who warned the company representatives that their actions were "clearly illegal" and demanded an immediate halt. However, the company representatives allegedly responded, "We know it's illegal, so don't worry about it," and continued their filming and surveillance.

Lee Eun-gyu, secretary-general of the National Construction Industry Union's Tower Crane Branch, told Hankyoreh that the company's "blatant surveillance and obstruction of the assembly, even using construction site CCTVs for purposes other than their intended use, forced the union to abandon subsequent protests." He emphasized that "using the equipment for purposes other than intended to monitor workers is a clear and unprecedented illegality."

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Using the equipment for purposes other than intended to monitor workers is a clear and unprecedented illegality.