The New Korea: An Inside Look at South Korea's Economic Rise

186 The New Korea

At fi rst, the demonstration was typical of many seen during that

time—a mass of people shouting. But after the police came to crack

down, Chun disappeared for a bit. When he came back, he had a can

of gasoline. The young tailor doused himself with gasoline and set

himself on fi re. As the fl ames scorched his skin, he ran in front of the

Kookmin Bank and shouted: “Observe the labor standard law. We are

not machines.”

He died later that night in a hospital.

Chun’s suicide drew intense response and reinvigorated the

country’s labor movement. Students at the prestigious Yonsei

University took up his cause—forging a collaboration among col-

lege students and workers that would last for decades to come.

Many college students joined ...