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| Han Yoon-soo, right, speaks during a press conference held for the release of his books titled "Blooming Violets" (literal translation) at the National Human Rights Commission of Korea building in Seoul, Feb. 20. Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
Han Yoon-soo, 75, a migrant workers' rights activist has published a series of books featuring his decades-long experience of supporting foreign workers in Korea.
Titled "Blooming Violets" (literal translation), the 10-book series is a collection of nearly 900 essays Han has written on his personal blog, as well as for his columns for a local newspaper since 2008. The stories feature the difficulties often faced by migrant workers ― harsh working environments, delayed payments, unfair treatment and physical and sexual abuse by employers.
Han, who has been heading the Hwaseong Migrant Worker Support Center based in Gyeonggi Province after establishing it in June 2007, has witnessed challenges faced by thousands of foreign-born workers.
"Although I've helped many foreign workers, I realized that there is no written record about their struggles," Han told The Korea Times, Wednesday. "That's why I began writing essays on my blog. But didn't think of making it into a book until a few years ago."
"My colleagues suggested to me that I publish my work. It wouldn't have been possible without their help. It took over three years to organize the stories into books."
Han's center has been offering free legal consultations to foreign workers not only in Gyeonggi Province, but from across the nation. Among the prevalent struggles the workers needed help with were delayed payments and physical abuse by employers.
Since 2004, through the employment permit system (EPS) operated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, about 50,000 workers from 16 countries have entered the country to work in the manufacturing, agriculture and fishing sector.
However, despite the government-operated system, many employers still think that it is okay for foreign workers to work overtime and be paid less, Han said.
"I hope that my books can shed light on the lives of migrant workers, who have been largely invisible in Korea, despite the fact that they have now become irreplaceable members of our society."
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