[SBS Night] 'A Story About the Day' the Real Reason Behind the 47-Year Struggle of These Women

What are the demands of those who have not ceased their struggle for 47 years?

On the 1st, SBS's 'A Story About the Day' focused on the harrowing cries of female factory workers who have been unyielding for 47 years, under the subtitle 'The Mysterious Secret of a Dream Job'.

In February 1978, photographer Ki-bok was awakened by a sound. At 6:30 in the morning, someone knocked on his door, and upon opening it, he found a woman in a dire state standing there.

Covered in something, the woman asked Ki-bok to take her picture, and soon after, he captured a photograph that would become a significant piece of South Korean history.

The story takes us back to 1966. A young man got a job at a textile factory, touted as a dream workplace. However, the moment the factory doors opened, the dreams of the young man and the girls shattered.

The female workers, managing 25 to 32 machines each, walked the equivalent of 140 steps per minute during their 8-hour shifts, sweating through their soles.

Especially in the winter, working in the factory, which could exceed 40 degrees Celsius, was no easy task. The women prepared salt, sesame oil, sponges, and athlete's foot medicine to endure the grueling work.

Despite their efforts to withstand the harsh conditions, the women's wages were only about 40% of what their male counterparts earned. Moreover, they were subjected to body searches upon leaving, as there were concerns they might steal cotton.

The company's shocking treatment led to growing dissatisfaction among the female workers, but no one seemed to be on their side. The company's union, represented by male managers, monitored the women and reported back to the company. Despite being at an age for studying and playing, the women, due to their difficult circumstances, couldn't easily quit knowing the reality of the factory.

Then, inspired by the death of activist Jeon Tae-il, the women decided to elect a female representative to their union and voiced their grievances, demanding corrections from the company.

However, the company sided with the male workers to suppress the women, and the opposition, led by male workers, controlled and eventually forced the women to leave the factory.

Despite the women's steadfastness, the opposition's tactics intensified, and the company even involved the police to pressure the women.

The young man was falsely accused of embezzlement, and the female union leader was arrested. The opposition then rigged an election to appoint a new male union leader.

800 female workers gathered in a square, demanding the invalidation of the election and the release of the executive committee. Their cries continued under the scorching sun for three days.

The company once again involved the police. The police attempted to suppress the women by force, and in resistance, the women stripped, thinking it would prevent the police from touching them. However, the police unleashed brutal violence, and 72 women were detained.

Fortunately, the rigged election was invalidated, but the opposition's tyranny over the women worsened. They insulted the women's dignity and mocked them with protest photos.

By February 1978, the women, determined to protect their voting rights for the union delegate election, stayed up all night and even sought preemptive help from the police.

However, before the voting could start, screams were heard. The opposition threw human feces at the women, turning the union office into chaos to disrupt the election. The police merely stood by and watched.

Seeing the ballot box covered in feces, the young man knew this had to be documented as evidence and rushed to the photo studio. He asked photographer Ki-bok to record the shameful scene.

Despite the opposition's victory and the subsequent resignation of many women, those with evidence staged a hunger strike at Myeongdong Cathedral, vowing never to return to the workplace and not drinking a single drop of water. 124 women participated in the hunger strike.

The company promised to stop the oppression if the women ended the strike and returned, but those who went home received termination notices for unauthorized absence.

All 124 women, dressed in their work clothes, returned to the workshop, embracing the machines and demanding reinstatement with a do-or-die attitude.

Yet again, the police were called in to assault and detain the women, leaving none behind bars.

Eventually, the women scattered to find new jobs, but they were met with sudden termination notices at their new workplaces as well.

The factory had shared a blacklist of the 124 fired workers nationwide.

Years later, a law was established to restore the honor and provide compensation to those involved in the democratization movement, giving the women a chance to reclaim their dignity 22 years after being fired.

However, the government refused to recognize the women as participants in the democratization movement, stating they suffered at the hands of the company but not the state.

In 2001, a whistleblower from the intelligence service came forward, exposing what he knew, and finally, the state recognized the women as participants in the democratization movement.

23 years later, the women's struggle was acknowledged as part of the democratization movement. They demanded reinstatement only to submit their resignations voluntarily, preserving their honor.

Their fight has continued for 47 years and is still ongoing. On the show, they tearfully wrote their resignation letters 47 years later.

They expressed gratitude for the opportunity to resign on their own terms, saying, "A society where one can resign voluntarily is a normal society," moving everyone watching to tears. 

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Hyo-jung)