"Do You See Me?" Kim Jin-sook Walks 34 Days to Cheongwadae

[경향신문]

Kim Jin-sook, senior member of the Busan chapter of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, who launched a “Hope March” calling for Hanjin Heavy Industries to reinstate her, arrives in front of Cheongwadae, Seoul on the afternoon of February 7. Concluding her 34-day 400km march, Kim waved a fan with the words, “Where is the society that respects labor?” and expressed her gratitude to the people who had been on a hunger strike for 48 days for her reinstatement and rehabilitation. Kim Ki-nam

“President Moon Jae-in, do you see me? Can you see me? I remain laid off even after you, who fought with me, became president through the power of the candlelight. Why is Kim Jin-sook, fired under the Chun Doo-hwan government, still laid off after 36 years? I walked 34 days because I want to hear the answer.”

On February 7, Kim Jin-sook (Kim Jin-suk, 61), a senior member of the Busan chapter of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, stood in front of Cheongwadae. Kim, the worker still laid off by Hanjin Heavy Industries, was wearing a blue uniform this day. Despite her battle with cancer, she walked 34 days during a 40-day journey from Busan to Cheongwadae. Workers laid off from Daewoo Bus (Zyle Commercial Vehicle), Gates Unitta Korea, Korail Networks, Asiana KO, and LG Twin Towers joined Kim, and surrounded her as she spoke. Kim was fired as a disciplinary measure in July 1986, after being tortured by the police on three occasions for producing and distributing flyers exposing the company-friendly nature of the labor union executives in February 1986.

A committee that reviewed the rehabilitation and compensation of pro-democracy activists (committee) recommended the company to reinstate Kim on two occasions in 2009 and 2020, but the company refused.

Kim stayed with the workers, despite being laid off from her company for 36 years. In January 2011, she climbed up crane no. 85 at the Yeongdo Shipyard, where Kim Ju-ik, the head of the Hanjin Heavy Industries union died while protesting lay offs by the company. Kim Jin-sook ended her 309-day sit-in after labor and management reached an agreement that November. In 2018, Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer, but in December 2019, she embarked on a 100km march to meet Bak Mun-jin, a senior member of the Korean Health and Medical Worker’s Union, who engaged in a sit-in at Yeungnam University Medical Center in Daegu.

The latest “Hope March” also started as an effort to join the people who launched a hunger strike in front of Cheongwadae for her reinstatement. Citizens gathered for the Remember the Hope Bus Hunger Strike to demand the reinstatement of Kim and launched an indefinite hunger strike in front of Cheongwadae on December 22, 2020. The day Kim arrived in front of Cheongwadae marked day 48 of the hunger strike. Seven people had begun the hunger strike, but five collapsed and were sent to the emergency room and only two remained. These two ended the hunger strike this day only after Kim’s request.

Last year marked Kim’s legal retirement age. Initially, Kim had three requests for the company. First was an apology. In other words, she wanted the company to officially acknowledge the fact that her layoff was unjust. She also wanted to be reinstated, not re-employed, and she wanted the company to pay her wages and severance pay since the time the committee recommended her reinstatement in 2009.

Last December, Hanjin Heavy Industries proposed to re-employ Kim, instead of reinstating her, and to pay her compensation of 80 million won without an official apology. The company refused to pay the wages for the period she was laid off claiming it could be interpreted as a dereliction of duty.

The fruitless negotiation took place upon the request of the company on February 4, ahead of Kim’s arrival in Seoul. It was the first official negotiation between labor and management. According to Kim’s representatives, Hanjin Heavy Industries conveyed that they could “express their regret” instead of an apology. The company insisted on its previous position on re-employment and compensation. The talks went around in circles and the next day, the company delivered a message saying they could not continue with the negotiation.

The police dragged Kim and brutally tortured her for engaging in union activities. For this reason, she was fired by her company. Her life as a laid-off worker has become a typical example of state violence against workers, which has been repeated in the modern history of South Korea. Kim’s reinstatement goes beyond the rehabilitation of an individual. It symbolizes the restoration of democracy and human rights.

The government and politicians failed to do their part as mediators. Recently, National Assembly Chairman Park Byeong-seug, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Nak-yeon, and National Human Rights Commission of Korea Chair Choi Young-ae have met with Kim, but they failed to present a solution.

Meanwhile, Kim arrived at Cheongwadae. Although her march has come to an end, her struggle to be reinstated is not over. She said, “Let’s not give up. Let’s not collapse, either. I won’t.”