“My death is not in vain” After 50 years … Jeon Tae-il’s Highest Grade Medal

President Moon Jae-in is taking a commemorative photo after presenting the Mugunghwa, the highest degree of the National Medal, to Jeon Tae-il’s grieving relatives at the ceremony held in the main building in Cheongwadae on the 12th. President Moon said that this order was “a symbolic expression of the government’s willingness to go to a society that respects work.” From the left, Tae-sam Jeon, Tae-il Jeon’s first brother, President Moon, and Soon-ok Jeon, the second brother of the National Assembly and the president. Photographic reporters of the Blue House

President Moon Jae-in ordered the National Mugunghwa Merit to deacons 12 days before the 50th anniversary of Jeon Tae-il’s 50th anniversary, saying, “Today’s medal is a symbol of the government’s commitment to a society that respects the job”. Mugunghwa ranks first among national medals and this is the first time a labor official has received it.

President Moon said, “I will go forward with numerous Jeon Tae-ils with the will to reach a society that respects work,” at a memorial ceremony held at the Blue House. Former lawmaker Jun Soon-ok, Jeon Tae-il’s younger brother Jeon Tae-sam, Jeon Tae-ri, Lee Su-ho, president of the Jeon Tae-il Foundation, and Jeon Tae-il’s friends attended the ceremony.

A statue of Jeon Tae-il installed in front of the Pyeonghwa Market in Cheonggyecheon, Seoul. News 1

Taeil Jeon, born in 1948, worked as a tailor for the Pyeonghwa mayor of Cheonggyecheon, Seoul. When the demands of young female workers to improve poor working conditions were blocked by interference from employers, on November 13, 1970, at the age of 22, “Observe the Labor Standards Act” The slogan shouted and transformed. It was an event that started the Korean labor movement in earnest. On the occasion of Jeon Tae-il’s death, her mother So-sun Lee (who died in 2011) and her family also joined the union movement. President Moon said in a conversation after finishing the medal ceremony: “It is a late Chuseo who has passed 50 years, but I think it will be gratifying to be able to present medals to our government to Taeil Jeon and Mother Sosun Lee.” Previously, President Moon introduced Moranjang to the late Ms. So-sun Lee at a ceremony to commemorate democracy in June this year. President Moon said, “I was in the last year of high school in 1970 when Jeon Tae-il transformed,” he said. “It was the first time I opened my eyes and recognized the union movement and the plight of workers, and then I became a labor lawyer.” He continued, “14 hours a day – 80 hours a week is 1900 hours a year, and the clamor for a day off is a five-day system, and the low-wage lure of Sida Gong has been realized with the minimum wage. “. “There is still a way to go towards a society that respects work. It is distant and slow, but our will will remain unchanged.” Jeon Tae-il’s grieving family members expressed their appreciation, saying, “I am very grateful for not letting people forget” (Tae-sam Jeon), and “Thank you sincerely for bringing meaning to my brother’s death” (Tae- Ri Jeon). President Lee Soo-ho also said, “I’m curious what to say to Jeon Tae-il, who said, ‘Don’t use my death in vain.” The grieving families will dedicate their medals to Yeongjeon at the 50th Jeon Tae-il Memorial Cemetery which will be held at the Jeontae-il Cemetery in Maseok Moran Park, Namyang-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 13th, and They will be exhibiting them at the Jeon Tae-il Memorial Hall.

On display was the first edition of Jeon Tae-Il Pyeongjeon (original title ‘The Life and Death of a Young Worker’) provided by the Jeon Tae-Il Foundation and a copy of a model company business plan written by Jeon Tae-il from the winter of 1969 to the spring of 1970.

Reporter Park Hyo-mok [email protected]