[vol.17] [Life story written by Park, Min-na]I need friends to share my 40 years' experiences
WORKING WOMAN 2008. 3. 21. 10:46- Cho, Yo-Ock, a chief of the Ansan Women Workers' Association
Min Na Park(Editorial staff of Seoul Women Workers Association)
Working women are beautiful but have difficult jobs. In the workplace, women suffer from traditional gender discrimination. Married women face problems such as pregnancy, child delivery and child care as well as demanding husbands and housework.
At that point, many working women give up. So, the working women who obtain gains are much more beautiful. Cho, Yo-Ock thinks it is pitiful that working women stop working because they have to take care of their children. However, she thinks this more importantly depends on her will to work. Due to her strong self-confidence, she worked until the day she gave birth, and was able to continue working happily, although she carried her babies on her back. Let's listen to her story, who has worked with enthusiasm and who is now turning 40 years old.
- Ox-feeding girl having a great desire to learn more
She was born as the sixth child amongst six daughters and one son, in the small Ocksan village, Pado-ri, Toji-myon, Kooryeh-kun in 1959. Her family was destitute in a poor village. Her siblings were intelligent and good students in primary school, but it was very difficult for the girls to go to secondary high school, because they were responsible for taking care of the family ox, the only family treasure.
However, Cho, Yo-Ock was determined and finally managed to go to secondary high school, 7 miles far away from her home. She was often scolded: 'I will burn your school uniform and books'. In the 60s, people were poor but those memories are warm and valuable.
When she was close to graduating from secondary high school, she could not help but wanting to study further. However, going to high school was almost impossible in her poor family situation, even though she was told that she had passed the high school examination. The industrial high school run by the Hanil Composite Textile located in Masan, appealed to her like a good rain in a draught.
However, her life in the dormitory was awful because holidays were available only once a month and there was a roll-call for students every evening. Working in the production line and processing fleece was very dusty and hard work. Her sister was kind enough to wash her uniform and help her a lot, but she waited for the days when she could return home.
- Sprout of the labor movement grown in the JOC
The day she went to the Catholic Women's Hall with her friend is an important turning point in her life. At that time, the Yang Duck Cathedral was located in the Hall. She was baptized at that church and joined the JOC. Her interest for the labor movement developed when listening to struggles in the labor movement such as the Dong-il women workers' struggle.
After graduating from industrial schools women workers usually take up work in electronic companies where job are easier and wages are high. They are tired of the hard work in the textile and garment industries. She too changed job and moved to the Dong Kyong Silicon. After her sister's marriage, she lived in a dormitory run by a nunnery. Many dormitory mates worked at other companies and this was helpful for her work as a member of JOC.
Before 1987, no independent trade unions were set up in the Masan and Changwon area. It was the same in the Dong Kyong Silicon. She was involved in forming various small groups, carrying out daily activities like resisting to frisks. In the course of preparing to organize a trade union, she was selected as a full-time head of the Education Dept. in the JOC. She never took a break at that time.
It was 1984 when she went to Seoul because she was elected as a woman president of the National headquarter of the JOC, due to her very positive activities. However, she faced several difficulties because of the conservative attitudes of the Seoul headquarters and its conflicts with local branches.
She mentioned that she had been able to overcome hardships thanks to the assistance of a supervisor, Father Michael. Working with him was helpful. Because he is open minded and progressive, he established people-centered programs for ordinary people. She got much help from him and was influenced by him.
- Working in Ansan
After working for two years, she then started working for the Labor Section of the Won Kok Cathedral where friends associated with the JOC had already settled down. Initially the labor movement was very limited there, but it was the time when some people-centered churches and many activitists started working. A cathedral is a good shield for those activists. It was usually open for organizational gatherings and meetings. Because of her activities there, she was often confined in the Kwang-myong police station during chilly winters and smelly summers.
She worked overnight to prepare for organizing meetings, undertaking education and counselling programs, and performing other activities which can never be stopped. During the large labor struggles of July, August and September, 1987, she contributed to setting up numerous trade unions as if she were a union-making machine.
- Establishing a true world for human beings
In 1988 she was so busy that she worked until the moment she was taken to hospital to deliver her baby. She took only a month's leave and then went to her office with her baby on her back. She thinks that caring for children is a full-time job. Conflicts usually occur when helps in taking care of children is expected from others. But, she does not want to stop working because of child care. She thinks this is because of her strong will.
Her situation did not change when she delivered her second baby. She did her best when working and had her children beside herself. It was quite difficult to organize meetings, to participate in rallies, and to undertake activities under those circumstances. In 1990 when a military policeman was killed, the regime started to raid activists' homes. Even though her eldest son was very young, suddenly all of her families had to flee at 1:00 a.m.
The more she has had these kinds of experiences, the more she has been willing to work, even though she felt sorry for her family. Maybe she is more ambitious to work. Since joining the JOC, she has not even taken a day off. She cannot stop working because she strongly disagrees with the controlling rule over the world.
She is interested in education for workers and advocates principle of 'labor school', and education programs in the Labor section of the Church. She thinks that workers' education should be based on humanitarianism. Her interest in educating workers is in developing a democratic people with strong beliefs in eliminating hardships in society; she wants to develop people's capacity to find and solve problems for themselves through participatory education.
Since the labor movement works for human beings, it should be accessible and friendly to correspond to people's demands and circumstances. So, she is working to set up a new model of the movement in accordance with the times. Since her participation in the activities of the JOC, she has viewed the labor movement as her calling, but she has felt limited in working in the Labor Section of the church. In spite of current trends towards specialization, she was limited to working for this weak labor organization without any area of speciality and without being paid.
- Transformation into women labor activist
In the course of her activities, she joined KWWAU and became responsible for the Ansan Women Workers' Welfare Center (affiliated with the KWWAU). This has not only increased her awareness of women's issues but has also led to the projects for women workers are need.
In her work, not only her slogan is, 'go to your workplace with specific programs in mind', which means not only to carry out programs for people seeking these programs, but also searching for people needing these programs. Thus, in conjunction with local child-care centers, she held classes for parents and carried out parenthood programs which have been welcome by local people.
She believes that organizing and developing the programs well received by people will bring about mutual support between those at grassroots levels. She mentions that she has worked like a horse for the last eight months, since opening the Ansan WWA. Through this, she believes that her views on women workers have become more clearer. "I believe everything starts from individuals.
Nothing is more important than the individual's firm will to change society. Sincere self-control encourages people to develop capabilities and to consolidate passions as activists. Women's powers grow stronger and stronger if women's own characteristics can be developed and improved."
Since the Ansan WWA started, she smiles and says that work has accumulated every day even though she works hard to accomplish all tasks. The most important thing is to organize people with care and compassion, to be interested in women workers' issues. She hopes to make her organization friendly and accessible to people. Through such efforts, I believe that her hopes and dreams for making joyful and equal society will finally come true like trees blooming in the spring.
- Drinking and Recalling memories
Translator's note: Drinking amongst friends is an important way of socializing in the Korean society and the labor movement. It is a way for people to let off steam, and to promote friendship and open discussion.
I ask what is the most difficult in her work. Unexpectedly, she says that she is lonely. Of course, she is always thankful to her husband who understands and supports her 100%, but she also feels some emptiness which she cannot share with him. People have at least one old good friend who can listen to problems, but she usually is the senior person in her activities because many people have left NGOs for a variety of reasons.
At the age of 40, she would like to have a good friend to talk with when she is lonely and to drink with, but she cannot easily think of anyone to do that with. When we recall our past, we do not meet people without any tension. I hope time will change under new political regime, and in the future people will go to the Kumkang mountain (located in North Korea)....
Translator's Note : [] Mountain Kumgang carries much meaning for the South Korean people as it has become a symbol of national reunification.
Then, I hope the day will come when we can sit, talk, and drink without worries.... Before that day, I would like to drink with her, talking about the old stories that she has not shared yet.