hankyoreh

staff photographer)

By Jin Myeong-seon, staff reporter

On Nov. 23, as an icy breeze blew across the city, near Deoksu Palace in Seoul, people holding a big pot visited those holding a tent camp sit-in demonstration with the slogan of “Let’s live together.” They had soon laid down a lunch spread that consisted of a variety of soups, pork and other dishes.

As they called the demonstrators to have a meal, they all happily gathered around the table. Father Moon Jung-hyun, 72, who emptied his once-heaping rice bowl and said with a surprised look, “That was the first good meal I’d had in a long time. I thought you were a group of wives of the workers dismissed by Ssangyong Motor, but you’re ordinary citizens?”

Those who made the lunch table are the so-called “rice shuttle team.” The team consists of workers, graduate students and other ordinary people who are not related to laid-off Ssangyong Motor workers, residents of Gangjeong Village in Jeju Island the construction of a naval base, or victims of the Yongsan Disaster. They have prepared lunch once a week for the Ssangyong Motor unionists since April.

That day, rice and kimchi was handled by graduate student Roh Ju-hyeok, 32. Kim Ji-yeon, 36, who is practicing asceticism at a Buddhist temple, prepared the soup and other dishes in a temple style. Kim Ho-gyu, 27, a graduate student currently on leave of absence, said with a smile that he contributed the taxi fees. Kim Hye-ryeong, 30, who makes a living as an hourly worker, arrived a little late with more side dishes. A middle-aged salaryman, delivered two boxes of tangerines and left quickly. After lunch, the shuttle team even provided a tasty dessert of sweet and healthy drinks.

The idea originated with a Twitter message written by homemaker, Jo Yeon-ju, 33. “I saw one Twitter message that said when protesters at Ssangyong Motor were eating bread, the riot police mocked them. So I thought, ‘Is it funny that they had bread? OK then, I will make a real dinner for them with rice and meat,” and then posted a message that kicked off the ‘rice shuttle.’”

The word "rice shuttle" originated from the slang expression "bread shuttle" used by bullies who force kids to offer up their meals at school, but in this case is used to describe the voluntary action of bringing food to protesters.

With the word spreading, the volunteer group has grown. Six or seven members participate regularly, and more participants often show up to support the group. Their aim has been to provide a warm meal to the worn-out protesters.

Sometimes only 10 people prepare a dinner comparable to catering a buffet for 30 to 40 protestors. The sit-in camp next to Deoksu Palace has become a venue not only for protesters but for ordinary citizens who hope to stand alongside the weak. Kim Jeong-uk of Ssangyong Motor’s trade union said, "Thanks to them, we have gained the energy to continue on with the sit-in."

Kim Ji-yeon who comes to Seoul from Cheonan, Chungcheong Province, to participate in the event says she is sorry she can’t do more. "I found out about the Ssangyong Motor issue by participating in the ‘Hope Bus’ demonstration for workers dismissed by Hanjin and subsequently learned of the temporary worker issue with JEI, Cort/Cor-tek, and Hyundai Motor," adding "I feel always sorry that there are so many places that we can’t go and deliver food to."

The sit-in camp by "Let’s Live Together" is an assemblage of protesters who have been driven to the edge by state violence and will see its 23rd day on Nov. 26.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]