Labor groups yesterday mourned the death of South Korean labor activist Bae Jaey-eong, who led a series of protests in Taipei in February and March against Taiwanese e-paper giant E-Ink Holding’s (EIH) decision to shut down its production lines in Icheon, South Korea.
South Korean police said Bae committed suicide by hanging himself at a camping facility in Seoraksan.
Police discovered Bae’s body on Monday evening, after he had been reported missing since Wednesday last week.
Photo: CNA
For 21 years, Bae worked as an employee at Hydis Technologies, which was acquired by EIH in 2008. After serving as union president at Hydis, Bae later assumed the position of deputy president at the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) regional branch in Gyeonggi Province.
Bae’s death sparked outrage among labor activists in Taiwan, who supported the South Korean workers during their two trips to Taipei earlier this year.
According to a statement issued by the Taiwan Supporters of Hydis Alliance, before his death, Bae told a fellow union activist that in his last meeting with the Hydis chief executive, the company threatened to file lawsuits against the workers to demand compensation over civil and criminal charges.
Launching a surprise protest before dawn, Taiwanese labor groups yesterday splashed red paint over the residence of tycoon Ho Shou-chuan (何壽川), the chairperson of Yuen Foong Yu (YFY Group) — of which EIH is an affiliate.
They plastered posters over the walls of the compound that featured a portrait of Bae and the slogan: “Murdered by Ho Shou-chuan,” saying that Bae’s death was the result of decisions by YFY Group and their “complete neglect of the lives of workers.”
“He led Hydis workers to the doors of YFY Group, shouting at the top of his lungs: ‘Withdraw the shutdowns, withdraw the dismissals,’ until his throat was sore and unable to utter any sound, even bleeding in his throat,” the alliance said. “His resolve motivated his companions greatly in fighting to the end for the dignity and survival of workers.”
Despite a series of demonstrations across Taipei in late March, Hydis dismissed more than 300 workers as planned by last month, leading employees to continue their protests at the closed-down manufacturing facilities.
In response, EIH said through a spokesperson that the company felt “deeply sad and deeply sorry” for Bae’s death.
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