[From the scene] Elderly Koreans attack memorial site of late laid-off worker and call mourners ‘commies’

A group of conservative, elderly Koreans who are ardent supporters of former President Park Geun-hye attacked a memorial site of a late laid-off worker in central Seoul on Wednesday, calling mourners and other laid-off laborers “commies” and “germs,” among other names.

“You  trade union members are ruining our country, you are ruining our country,” an elderly Korean woman shouted at the mourners, waving a South Korean flag frantically.

“This guy did not even die for our country. Why create such a fuss? Leave now! Leave now! Get out of our sight, commies!” said an elderly man wearing a military uniform. 

"It's your fault that you got fired."

30 deaths since 2009

The late worker, Kim Ju-jung, took his own life last month after fighting for some nine years for re-employment at his former employer, Ssangyong Motors. He was one of some 2,600 workers who lost their jobs in 2009, after the automaker instigated massive layoffs in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis.

Twenty-nine other Ssangyong laid-off workers and their spouses have either taken their own lives or died of illnesses. A lot of the late workers were parents of young children. 

In 2009 alone, three laid-off union members of Ssangyong  took their own lives. Two made suicide attempts. One woman, who was married to one of the laid-off workers, also ended her life that year.

In 2011, a Ssangyong employee who was forced to take unpaid leave took his own life in his house, about a year after his wife did the same after suffering severe depression. His body was found by his son, who was only 17 at the time. He reportedly only had 40,000 won ($35.79) at the time of his death.

Kim, like many of his former colleagues who lost their lives to suicide, struggled to make his ends meet after losing his job in 2009. Due to long-term unemployment, his credit score suffered. A father with children to support, he was reportedly forced to take temporary jobs, including a truck driver, but unable to pay off debts. 

"I'm sorry I'm only leaving you with debts after making you suffer for so long. I hope you live a happy life, even though things may not be easy," he wrote to his wife in his final text message before taking his life.

Following Kim’s death, his former colleagues set up a public memorial site in front of Deoksugung in central Seoul earlier this week, to pay tribute to Kim and others who have lost their lives since the massive layoffs in 2009 -- only to be insulted and interrupted by elderly Koreans.

"We have been witnessing such barbarism and madness today," said Yang Kyung-soo, an official from the Minju-nochong, a national trade union center in South Korea, on being attacked for mourning the death of Kim.

"We are only here to say we need to save lives, rather than letting people die. Over the course of nine years, 30 have died. And these deaths could've been avoided.  I don't know why we have to endure such indignity just to say this."

The Deoksugung factor

Prior to the establishment of the memorial site, the main gate of Deoksugung had been occupied by members of the conservative group, who have been fiercely protesting former President Park’s impeachment last year. 

Many of them believe that the current government is "too sympathetic" toward North Korea as well as progressive groups, including trade unions.  A significant number of them are known to be Christians, have a military background and pro-American. They are well known for waving both Korean and Amerian flags during rallies.

Deoksugung, however, is also a place of significance for laid-off Ssangyong workers. The first and temporary memorial site for the late workers was set up here in 2012, after 24 lost their lives due to extreme financial hardships and stress caused by long-term unemployment. The site was moved to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in 2013, where the Ssangyong factory where they worked is located.

Following Kim’s death last month, his former colleagues decided to move the memorial site back to Daehanmun, the main gate to Deoksugung in central Seoul, after five years, to raise awareness and protest against the government who they think is partially responsible for the 30 tragic deaths.

"We don't want commies here"

"I don't know why they are here," said a 75-year-old supporter of President Park. "They could've done it elsewhere -- the Gwanghwamun Square, Cheong Wa Dae, you name it. But this is our space here and we don't want commies here."

Starting Tuesday night, the members of the conservative group both physically and verbally attacked the mourners and former colleagues of late Kim. Sometimes they would sing the national anthem loudly whenever mourners tried to make a speech in tribute to the late Kim using a microphone. 

As of Wednesday morning, one citizen and one labor activist were sent to a hospital after being hit by the conservative group members. A reporter was also physically attacked and his camera damaged.

The violence continued through Wednesday afternoon, amid scorching hot weather. 

An elderly woman kept shouting "stop selling the corpses" (literally translated) -- accusing them of exploiting the deaths of their ex-colleagues. Some swore using sexually explicit language, while others kept shouting "get lost" to the the union members paying respect to the dead. 

The elderly protesters insisted that setting up the memorial site in front of Deoksugung, which they claim to be “their property,” is illegal. Authorities have confirmed that nothing is illegal about the tribute site.

More than 20 police offers were present at the site, trying to block the elderly Koreans from breaking into and possibly destroying the memorial space.

Pedestrians and commuters stopped and watched the scene in shock. Some burst into tears after witnessing the mourners being surrounded by and insulted by the elderly protesters, who ironically waved South Korean flags while attacking the laid-off workers.

“My heart is just breaking,” said Choi Min, a commuter who spent a few minutes to show support to the laid-off workers, while wiping her tears. 

 “A person has died. This is not a rally, but a place to show tribute. People are mourning and they are being accused of being a commie. I can’t believe this is happening.”

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)