Jeon Tae-il
Encyclopedia
Jeon Tae-il was a South Korea
n worker and workers' rights activist who committed suicide by burning himself to death
at the age of 22 in protest of the poor working conditions in South Korean factories. His death brought attention to the substandard labor conditions and helped the formation of labor union movement in South Korea.
A tailor himself, Jeon witnessed the horrendous working conditions in the Seoul Peace Market (서울평화시장; Seoul Pyeonghwa Sijang). Such conditions included rampant tuberculosis
due to poor ventilation (or the lack thereof) in the sweatshop
s, and the enforced injections of amphetamine
s to keep sleep-deprived workers awake and to work them overtime without proper compensation.
Also, protesting against such conditions was, by association, protesting against the oppressive rule of Park Chung-hee
, South Korea's then-dictator president. Although Jeon succeeded in briefly creating awareness, he soon met with resistance from the government, which almost entirely ignored labor regulations and frequently sided with the employers who were accused of exploitation. Scornful Labor Department
officials told Jeon and his colleagues they were unpatriotic for complaining, and employers simply cracked down harder. Ultimately, in order to force attention onto the issue he set himself on fire and ran through the streets of downtown Seoul shouting slogans such as, "We are not machines, enforce the labor code". He was transported to a nearby hospital but did not survive the wounds suffered from burning himself.
His death was not in vain as it mobilized and motivated other workers to take up the struggle and this eventually led to the creation of labor unions that were gradually able to secure workers' rights. Also, his death became a catalyst for uniting many university students, some religious officials, and the newspaper media, which continuously silenced their support for the cause of the workers.
The biographic film A Single Spark
details Jeon's struggle. A bestselling biography of him was published in 2001.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n worker and workers' rights activist who committed suicide by burning himself to death
Self-immolation
Self-immolation refers to setting oneself on fire, often as a form of protest or for the purposes of martyrdom or suicide. It has centuries-long traditions in some cultures, while in modern times it has become a type of radical political protest...
at the age of 22 in protest of the poor working conditions in South Korean factories. His death brought attention to the substandard labor conditions and helped the formation of labor union movement in South Korea.
A tailor himself, Jeon witnessed the horrendous working conditions in the Seoul Peace Market (서울평화시장; Seoul Pyeonghwa Sijang). Such conditions included rampant tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
due to poor ventilation (or the lack thereof) in the sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
s, and the enforced injections of amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
s to keep sleep-deprived workers awake and to work them overtime without proper compensation.
Also, protesting against such conditions was, by association, protesting against the oppressive rule of Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee was a Republic of Korea Army general and the leader of South Korea from 1961 to 1979. He seized power in a military coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979. He has been credited with the industrialization of the Republic of Korea through export-led growth...
, South Korea's then-dictator president. Although Jeon succeeded in briefly creating awareness, he soon met with resistance from the government, which almost entirely ignored labor regulations and frequently sided with the employers who were accused of exploitation. Scornful Labor Department
Ministry of Labor (South Korea)
South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor is a cabinet-level ministry overseeing labor affairs. Its predecessor agency, the Division of Labor, was established under the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs on 11 November 1948. It was upgraded to a cabinet ministry on 8 April 1981....
officials told Jeon and his colleagues they were unpatriotic for complaining, and employers simply cracked down harder. Ultimately, in order to force attention onto the issue he set himself on fire and ran through the streets of downtown Seoul shouting slogans such as, "We are not machines, enforce the labor code". He was transported to a nearby hospital but did not survive the wounds suffered from burning himself.
His death was not in vain as it mobilized and motivated other workers to take up the struggle and this eventually led to the creation of labor unions that were gradually able to secure workers' rights. Also, his death became a catalyst for uniting many university students, some religious officials, and the newspaper media, which continuously silenced their support for the cause of the workers.
The biographic film A Single Spark
A Single Spark
A Single Spark is an award-winning 1995 South Korean film.-Synopsis:...
details Jeon's struggle. A bestselling biography of him was published in 2001.