The article reflects on a significant event that took place on March 26, 1978, during the Easter service held at Yeouido Plaza in Seoul, where approximately 500,000 attendees gathered. At a moment of solemn prayer led by a pastor, six women workers from various textile companies rushed onto the stage, shouting messages demanding labor rights and an end to wage theft. This shocking interruption indicated the rising discontent among workers despite the religious context of the gathering.

The protest was fueled by the oppression the workers faced, particularly during a prayer meeting the night before that aimed to support those in suffering. The women’s courageous act was met with immediate brutality as police violently dragged them away, expressing their anger at what they perceived as a disruption to public order. The event not only marked a rebellion against the status quo but illustrated the intersection of labor rights activism within the religious sphere, reflecting broader social tensions in South Korea in the late 1970s.

The legacy of this protest resonates today, highlighting the struggles for labor rights and the challenges faced by workers advocating for their rights amidst oppressive state mechanisms. The phrase “We cannot survive on excrement” echoes the desperation of workers struggling for dignity and justice, while their confrontation with law enforcement signals a turning point where faith and labor rights activism intersected in significant ways during a troubled era in South Korea's history.