Guro Labour Street – Street of Jeon Tae-il

“What if you were sacked, with months of unpaid wages?”

In Korea, the Labour Standards Act states that both resignation and dismissal must be given with at least one month's notice. Even if there’s a valid reason, sudden dismissal is illegal—time must be given to find a new job. But for many workers in Korea’s past, this law was ignored.

In the 1960s and onwards, workers were often dismissed for joining a union or going on strike. Employers shared names of those sacked—forming so-called ‘blacklists’—making it nearly impossible for these workers to find jobs elsewhere.

Much of Korea’s early industrial growth, especially in export industries, came through the sacrifices of labourers working for low pay in harsh conditions. Women, especially those in light industries like textiles, suffered the most. In places like Pyeonghwa Market in Dongdaemun, young women operated sewing machines for long hours in tiny, poorly ventilated workshops. Illness and injury were common. They were let go without care or support.

Guro Industrial Complex was no different. Women endured verbal abuse, physical violence, and exhausting hours for little pay. Outside the factories, they faced stereotypes as “ignorant factory girls”. But they fought back—many became leaders in the labour movement, demanding fair treatment and better lives.

The modern Korean labour movement began with Jeon Tae-il. Outraged by the exploitation of workers, he took a desperate step to draw attention to their suffering. On 13 November 1970, at 2 PM, Jeon Tae-il set himself on fire near Pyeonghwa Market, shouting: “Observe the Labour Standards Act!” His death sparked a wave of activism.

In the 1970s and 80s, Guro became a major centre of labour organising. In June 1985, union members from seven companies, including Daewoo Apparel, staged a joint protest calling for an end to union suppression. The government’s response was harsh—labour groups were labelled dangerous, meetings were broken up, and rights were stripped away.

Still, the movement grew. In 1987, a nationwide general strike pushed back against years of injustice. Workers in both light and heavy industry demanded better wages, fair treatment, and basic rights. They won key victories, laying the groundwork for modern labour rights in Korea.

As you walk down Guro Labour Street and past Pyeonghwa Market, you’re walking through the heart of that history—a street shaped by sacrifice, resistance, and the demand for dignity at work.

Caption: Picture of female workers who are working at a sewing factory in the Guro Industrial Complex in the 1980s. They were called by their charging work or their number.

Provided by Kyunghyang Daily News and Korea Democracy Foundation

1. Worker’s Life Experience Centre, Home of Sun-ee – A 2-pyeong Honeycomb Room
This recreated space shows the cramped housing conditions of Guro Industrial Complex workers. In buildings packed with 30 to 40 tiny rooms—nicknamed "honeycombs"—up to four people shared a 2-pyeong (6.6m²) room. Many couldn’t afford rent alone and even shared rooms in shifts. Each room is furnished with items from the 1970s and 80s, offering a glimpse into everyday life.

2. Former Sunhwa Dormitory – Run by Nuns for Female Workers
Opened in 1979, this female-only dormitory housed 108 workers in a four-storey building, with shared bathrooms and washrooms on each floor. Residents were allowed to go out or stay overnight elsewhere with prior permission. As the number of factory workers declined, the building was converted into the Saint Francisco Welfare Centre, now serving women with disabilities.

3. Former Garibong Ogeori (Five-Way Junction) – A Symbol of Labour Struggles
Nicknamed "Gaori", this junction became a key site for labour protests. After disembarking at Gurogongdan Station (Line 2), workers passed through this bustling street filled with shops, disco clubs, and beer halls. From the 1970s to 80s, workers often gathered here to protest. Blocking this intersection disrupted traffic and business, making it an effective protest location.

4. Former Daewoo Apparel – Site of the First Joint Strike
On 24 June 1986, 285 union members from Daewoo Apparel began a strike demanding an end to union suppression. Six other companies, including Hyosung, joined in. This became known as the Guro Joint Strike—the first coordinated strike across different companies. Workers supported one another by beating gongs and cheering across the street.

5. Former Guro Labour Literary Society & Consultation Centre – Worker Support Organisations
After the 1987 General Labour Strike, various grassroots organisations emerged. In a corner building near Garibong Ogeori, the Guro Labour Consultation Centre (opened 13 November 1987) provided legal support and union guidance. The Guro Labour Literary Society (established June 1988) hosted meetings and educational sessions. Both remained active into the late 1990s and early 2000s.

6. Former Mosae Beauty Shop – Sit-in Protest Site
The Mosae Beauty Shop, located on the second floor near Garibong Ogeori, was occupied on 19 March 1986 by the Seoul Labour Movement Federation. This coalition, formed by four labour groups including Daewoo Apparel’s union, held a sit-in protest there. Banners hung from the building read, “Release arrested workers” and “Ensure living wages.”

7. Former Shinheung Precision – A Life for a Wage
On 17 March 1986, Young-jin Park and fellow workers from Shinheung Precision staged a lunchtime protest demanding a daily wage of 4,200 KRW. While fleeing police, Park climbed to the roof and tragically set himself on fire in protest. He was later honoured as a democracy movement activist and buried at Maseok Moran Park’s Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery.

1. Dongdaemun Pyeonghwa Market – Attics Only 1.6 Metres High
Established in 1962, Pyeonghwa Market became notorious in the 1970s for its cramped attic workshops. Each 8-pyeong (approx. 26.4m²) attic was split into two levels, creating workspaces just 1.6 metres high. In these dark, airless rooms, teenage girls and young women laboured for over 16 hours a day. Sunlight rarely reached inside, so incandescent bulbs burned constantly, straining their eyes. Despite the poor conditions, they couldn’t organise or speak out. But after Jeon Tae-il’s self-immolation in 1970, the attics began to be dismantled, marking a turning point.

2. Jeon Tae-il Statue and Beodeul Bridge – A Catalyst for Change
Jeon Tae-il, a garment cutter at Pyeonghwa Market, set himself on fire on 13 November 1970 at 2 PM, demanding that the Labour Standards Act be enforced. His death exposed the cruel conditions in the market’s attic workshops, sparking national outrage. It pressured the government to remove the attics and led to the founding of the Cheong-Gye Apparel Labour Union, which drove labour activism in the 1970s. In 2005, a 3-metre statue of Jeon Tae-il was erected on Beodeul Bridge, now renamed the Jeon Tae-il Bridge, in honour of his sacrifice.

3. Hanwulsam – Families of the Fallen
Hanwulsam is the home of the Korean Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy, established in 1986. It represents families of workers, farmers, and students who lost their lives—many through self-immolation, suicide, or state violence—during Korea’s democracy movement. The association was central to pushing for truth and justice, including a 422-day protest outside the National Assembly. Their activism helped create the Presidential Truth Commission, the Commission for Democratization Movement Activists, and the Korea Democracy Foundation. Inside the house, built in the 1990s, portraits of the deceased line the left-hand wall.

4. Jeon Tae-il Foundation – A Shelter for Workers’ Voices
The Jeon Tae-il Foundation carries forward his legacy. Initially formed as a commemorative group by his mother, Lee So-seon, and fellow union members, it became a formal foundation in 2009. Housed in a three-storey building in Changcheon-dong, it preserves historical documents, runs educational and cultural programmes, awards annual prizes in Jeon Tae-il’s name, and supports workers' causes. Cheonggyecheon 3–8-ga was also named “Jeon Tae-il Street” in 1996, ensuring his memory lives on in Seoul’s landscape.