Protest sign offering transnational solidarity from Korea
Label
Protest sign offering transnational solidarity from Korea
Creator
Unknown
Object Type
Signs
Description
Kim Jin-suk was a welder, and South Korean labor activist, who received international attention when she staged a protest against her employer on top of a 115-foot shipyard crane in 2011. Following massive layoffs, Kim occupied the crane for more than 300 days in order to pressure Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction to rehire unionists who had lost their jobs. The protest worked. Nearly a hundred workers regained their positions as a result of Kim's protest and the movement she inspired across South Korea. Kim's protest is just one example of Occupy linking their actions to other solidarity movements across the globe. This cardboard sign includes a photograph Kim and a message of "Solidarity from 99 Percent of Korea."
Image Description
This cardboard sign includes a black and white photograph of South Korean labor activist Kim Jin-suk, smiling and raising both her fists in the air. To the right of the photograph, a protestor has written in black marker, “Kim, Jinsuk (=300 Days) ‘Let’s Fight Together!’” Below this, the sign says, “Solidarity from 99% of Korea.” At the bottom of the sign it says Suyunomo R (Independent Research Commune). There are Hangul characters and a black and white photograph from the G20 Seoul Summit in 2010. The back side of the cardboard shows that the cardboard comes from a yellow, white, and blue printer paper box. There are crossed out words that say 2nd floor (SM) J+K’s Toys” suggesting that this box may previously have been used in a household move.
Citation
"Solidarity from 99% Korea" sign, circa 2011-2012; TAM.630 Occupy Wall Street Archives Working Group Records; box 25; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University