Unionized civil servants, teachers summoned

Police said Wednesday that they have summoned 224 members of unions representing progressive teachers and public workers to question them on their alleged illegal political activities and donations to the minor progressive Democratic Labor Party (DLP), according to Yonhap News.

The union members of the Korea Teachers and Education Workers` Union (KTU) and the Korean Government Employees` Union (KGEU) are suspected of illegally engaging in political activities by paying monthly membership fees to the DLP, officials at Seoul`s Yeongdeungpo Police Station said.

Civil servants and teachers are obliged by law to abstain from joining or donating directly to political parties. Only indirect political contributions via the Election Management Commission are permitted.

"We have secured evidence that proves their violation of the current law," a police officer said, noting investigators obtained their account information during a probe into participation by progressive teachers in anti-government rallies last July.