SEOUL • The head of one of South Korea's two main labour groups, Han Sang Gyun, turned himself over to police yesterday after holing up inside a Buddhist temple for nearly four weeks to evade arrest for organising a violent anti-government protest last month.

Han, head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the more strident of the country's umbrella labour groups, had sought sanctuary in the downtown Seoul temple after speaking at the rally on Nov 14, where he urged members to protest against the government's labour reform policy

"Even if I am arrested today, I will continue the struggle to stop the government's policy to make labour conditions worse," he said before being taken into police custody, ending a stand-off that involved hundreds of police surrounding the temple.

Ms Park Geun Hye's conservative government wants to enable employers to dismiss workers based on performance and cap salaries of senior staff to encourage employers to hire younger people.

REUTERS