Petition to decorate ’mother of laborers’ nixed

By Na Jeong-ju

The government has rejected a petition from a civic group to offer a posthumous decoration to the late Lee So-sun, known as the “mother of laborers,” for her contribution to improving labor conditions and promoting democracy here.

Lee, the mother of legendary labor activist Jeon Tae-il, who committed suicide in 1970 at the age of 22 by setting himself on fire during a protest, died at a Seoul hospital on Sept. 4. She was 82.

The following day, the Korea Democracy Foundation (KDF) submitted a petition to the Ministry of Public Administration and Security to decorate her, saying she had played a significant role in improving the welfare of laborers and helping Korea’s transition into a democratic society.

However, the ministry rejected the idea, saying it was difficult to evaluate her contribution.

“Honoring her would have a symbolic meaning for the country, but there are still many people who have not been decorated despite their contribution to democracy,” a ministry official said.

The foundation expressed regret over the government’s decision, saying she is eligible to be honored.

“Lee dedicated herself to the labor movement after her son’s death in 1970 and helped many democracy fighters under the authoritarian governments in the 1970s and ‘80s. Her contribution to our society was great,” a KDF spokesman said.

After her son died in a protest at the Seoul Peace Market near Dongdaemun against poor working conditions at factories, she herself became a labor activist. She was arrested several times in the 1970s and ‘80s due to her participation in illegal rallies and assisting fellow activists.

Lee founded a union of tailors and garment workers in the Cheonggye area in Seoul in 1979. She also set up an association of bereaved families of deceased democracy fighters in 1986 to fight for the recovery of their honor.

From 1998, she held rallies for 422 days in front of the National Assembly to call for the enactment of a special law on conducting investigations into suspicious deaths that occurred under the military governments. The following year, the Assembly passed the law, enabling the creation of a government fact-finding committee in 2000. The committee resolved 82 suspicious deaths until it was disbanded in September 2002.