Mono
In 1960, South Korea was being exploited for economic development under the dictatorship of President Park Chung-hee. In Park's regime, a clothing market has created in central Seoul, with more than 1…
Mono
In 1960, South Korea was being exploited for economic development under the dictatorship of President Park Chung-hee. In Park's regime, a clothing market has created in central Seoul, with more than 1,000 factories and shops in it. Young female workers around 14 years old worked for more than 14 hours only for 5 cents a day. There was no ventilator, so dust piled up and they could go to a bathroom only once a day. It was no different from the animals trapped in the cage. Chun Tae-il, the eldest son of a poor family, started to earn money as a sewing assistant and became a tailor in Pyeonghwa Clothing Market. Working as a tailor, with a little salary Chun Tae-il saved his own expenses and bought bread for Young female workers who were starving. Chun Tae-il, a devout Christian, bought school supplies and took off his clothes for young poor children in church. One day, Chun Tae-il found out the existence of the Labor Standards Act. Until then, the Labor Standards Act was just a book, not reflected in reality. Chun Tae-il set up a meeting with working-class friends to demand improvements in poor working conditions. But the government and business owners ignored and suppressed him. Because he was a poor worker. As Chun Tae-il's continued demands did not improve, he burned himself to death on Nov. 3, 1970, shouting "Adhere to the labor law" at the Pyeonghwa Market. He was only 22 years old. Chun Tae-il's death awakened the consciousness of the government and citizens, who thought that all they had to do was to focus on urban development and live well alone. Chun Tae-il's mother (Lee So-sun, 1929-2011) follows her son's will to "creat a labor union and fight for workers" and lives for labor rights for the rest of her life. A college student and a religious man were aroused by his death. Religious people, intellectuals, including college students, honored the memory of the deceased, who was a Christian. And they participated in the labor ground to talk to workers and unite for them. After the incident, the reality of labor in Korea has undergone drastic changes. His sacrifice destroyed the dictatorship, democratized it, and improved workers' rights. It is a miracle made by a grain of wheat named Chun Tae-il 50 years have passed, but the reality has not changed yet in Korea. The young workers are still dying in blind spots. The documentary shows Chun Tae-il, who became a grain of wheat, the people who followed him, and the reality of labor in Korea today. Chun Tae-il is dead but still alive. 'A Grain of Wheat in Flames' is the story of Chun Tae-il, who self-immolated in protest of working conditions in Korean factories, and the righteous people who committed to improve labor environment and human rights in South korea.
Mono
Drama
Film Details
In 1960, South Korea was being exploited for economic development under the dictatorship of President Park Chung-hee. In Park's regime, a clothing market has created in central Seoul, with more than 1,000 factories and shops in it. Young female workers around 14 years old worked for more than 14 hours only for 5 cents a day.
There was no ventilator, so dust piled up and they could go to a bathroom only once a day. It was no different from the animals trapped in the cage. Chun Tae-il, the eldest son of a poor family, started to earn money as a sewing assistant and became a tailor in Pyeonghwa Clothing Market.
Working as a tailor, with a little salary Chun Tae-il saved his own expenses and bought bread for Young female workers who were starving. Chun Tae-il, a devout Christian, bought school supplies and took off his clothes for young poor children in church. One day, Chun Tae-il found out the existence of the Labor Standards Act.
Until then, the Labor Standards Act was just a book, not reflected in reality. Chun Tae-il set up a meeting with working-class friends to demand improvements in poor working conditions. But the government and business owners ignored and suppressed him.
Because he was a poor worker. As Chun Tae-il's continued demands did not improve, he burned himself to death on Nov. 3, 1970, shouting "Adhere to the labor law" at the Pyeonghwa Market.
He was only 22 years old. Chun Tae-il's death awakened the consciousness of the government and citizens, who thought that all they had to do was to focus on urban development and live well alone. Chun Tae-il's mother (Lee So-sun, 1929-2011) follows her son's will to "creat a labor union and fight for workers" and lives for labor rights for the rest of her life.
A college student and a religious man were aroused by his death. Religious people, intellectuals, including college students, honored the memory of the deceased, who was a Christian. And they participated in the labor ground to talk to workers and unite for them.
After the incident, the reality of labor in Korea has undergone drastic changes. His sacrifice destroyed the dictatorship, democratized it, and improved workers' rights. It is a miracle made by a grain of wheat named Chun Tae-il 50 years have passed, but the reality has not changed yet in Korea.
The young workers are still dying in blind spots. The documentary shows Chun Tae-il, who became a grain of wheat, the people who followed him, and the reality of labor in Korea today. Chun Tae-il is dead but still alive.
'A Grain of Wheat in Flames' is the story of Chun Tae-il, who self-immolated in protest of working conditions in Korean factories, and the righteous people who committed to improve labor environment and human rights in South korea..