Voice of Witness: Hye-Kyeong Han

Hye-Kyeong’s narrative explains the plight of line workers fighting inhumane conditions and the resulting illnesses that occur due to the line of work. Assisted by her mother, Hye-Keong explains that the bright future and the dreams that she had carried with her out of school were destroyed by the working conditions in Samsung production factories. Her original expectations of Samsung as a generous and dutiful company faded and eventually died entirely when she it was discovered that she had a brain tumor and was refused aid from the company. As she fought to recover from the invasive surgery, her mother fought for her case, but rapidly realized the power that money wields over the industry and the complete disregard for safety or the redress of past failures that Samsung had towards its employees. Hye-Kyeong’s story is one of many factory workers’ stories, where loyal work in hazardous conditions leads to uncommon illnesses that are costly to treat and that have long-standing consequences for even simple living. It is imperative to read and spread her story. As one of many voices being forcibly shoved into the greater shadow of achievement and face that companies have, Hye-Kyeong highlights the imperfect nature of cheap mass production and the lengths in which companies will go to maintain their appearance to the general public while failing to support and appreciate the workers who have brought them so far. Her story really drives home the perfect example of any manufacturer who claims one thing or boasts of another in the public eye, but disregards it all in relation to its workers simply because it refuses to accept the responsibility, the public fallout, and the monetary restitution that recognizing its failings would cause. As a consumer, it is very important to be aware of where the things you buy come from and how they get there. Hye-Kyeong’s example of how a great company with a great reputation is really not at all what it seems is another reason to really be educated about what you support, whether implicitly or explicitly, with purchases or recommendations etc. In this day in age, people have stopped questioning where things come from or what it really cost to get it so cheap. They just see what they want and look for the cheapest pricing. This blind acceptance of whatever conditions or events transpiring all to be convenient for right at that moment only assists the industry in further demeaning the value and necessity of a truly transparent market with respect and safe conditions for all. By spreading awareness of the tragedies that occur behind closed doors and in the shadows as not one-time cases, but as occurrences linked to the conditions of the work facilities, hopefully the neglect that occurs now can be halted when all actions are put forth on center stage and not hidden in the darkness of the manufacturing line.

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