South Korea's Untouchable Families | Open Secrets

Open Secrets is a documentary series that looks at just this – secrets lived out in the open,
things everyone knows about, but no one will talk about - until that moment when it becomes
fully exposed to the world. Each episode visits a different country, looking at a single secret and
exploring why the issue remained a secret for years despite existing out in the open. What has
allowed these secrets to fester in the open for so long? For some, the reason is a risk, that
blowing the whistle can be deadly. For others, it’s a privilege, that they benefited from the
secret staying such for too long. This series is about the insurmountable control those in the
corridors of power have in societies — till someone decides to risk it all to take them head-on.

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[azmd]

When people here said that this video is not accessible in S. Korea unless you are using a VPN, it says a lot. Thank you VICE & YouTube for giving the voice of the suffering minority to be heard.

[culilom]

The father fought for his daughter for 10 years against the biggest cooperate in South Korea, and won.
what a a story.

[h.h]

To go against a company that makes 20% of your countries gdp is such a brave thing to do man big up yumi’s dad he’s literally amazing

[LeeroyJNCOs]

I interned in Seoul during college and had friends who were teachers in prestige international schools. One 1st grader (a granddaughter of the Samsung fortune) had a room in their apartment just for her coats (she never wore the same one twice) and another 1st grader, her parents owned basically every single luxury store in Incheon airport. It's just a completely different lifestyle.

[스윗호랑]

Vice didn’t mention this, but March 6th is the date where her Hwang Yumi died in her father’s taxi. It is currently (at the time of writing) is March 6th in South Korea, the 15th anniversary of her death. Vice honoured her by posting it on the day of her passing.

My heart goes out to Yumi. Her father is a hero.

edit: sorry, they did mention her death date.

[triciamaythebrummie]

Yumi’s dad is a true hero. Imagine the grief and loss. But he fought against the big ones for 11+ years, thanks to those who help make his lone voice to win justice not only for Yumi but also the others who died.
The “nut rage” of the Korean owner’s heiress was well known in the west.

[missbaeby]

I got chills when the father said he wanted to throw her daughter ashes at the people who killed her. Such an image will never leave my mind. Such pain is unimaginable.

[thenunu]

To Yumi's father - I'm sorry for your daughter's passing and her suffering. There is no braver man that faces the challenger to the safety and health of their child. Although it is not my place to speak for Yumi, she would be so very proud of you, your integrity and grace. Tonight I have lit a candle for Yumi, your family and all who bear this xx

[SomeDewd]

“She did not stand alone, but what stood behind her, the most potent moral force in her life, was the love of her father." - Harper Lee

[smkser]

This was very well done. Good job Vice. I really enjoyed how there were no narrators, no hosts, no correspondents. Just victims, journalists, activists etc. speaking in Korean. Really gave it a sense of authenticity.

[soulsearcher]

When he talked about how he wished to throw his daughter’s ashes into the faces of Samsung’s people, I couldn’t stop shedding tears. Such a heart breaking and moving story. When it was showed that Samsung finally admitted to their fault, I had to pause because I was so emotional. I am so glad that Yumi and her father’s story has gotten so much recognition. Hopefully there is real, material change from this.

[Conernforthesedogs-iwlf]

Yuni losing her life to a toxic job is unconscionable, and watching her father is heart wrenching.

[nbacom.]

this was super heart felt. the father is an absolute hero for what he did, and how long he continued to fight.

[Aracadara]

As someone who has strong ties to this country I am glad that stories like this become more and more available for everyone to see. It is important that people in the west who are initially drawn to South Korea due to their pop culture and film industry also get to know this side of the coin. South Korea is such a great country with so many things to offer, but we should not turn a blind eye on these kind of social issues.

[Anna_es]

I never knew such dads existed, mine would've took the hush money and called it day. He would probably say "well what can I do about it? Nothing mija, " but Yumi's dad fought for his daughter for 11 years! The amount of pain and humiliation he must have endured all just to give his daughter a sense of peace even in death is just so heartwarming to me. 11 million was not nearly enough.

[yippikiyay]

As an American who has worked for multiple Chaebols - they only scratched the surface. They're not just powerful in Korea - they're powerful in the world. They are ruthless.

[theposthumanpodcast]

Half a million applicants, 73% of graduates is a wild figure... This documentary is extremely eye opening on so many levels.. Vice is easily one of my more favourite documentary shows to watch they cover everything you know very little about.

[areoheses]

Yumi's Father is such a sweet kind soul. I hope he finds peace in some way. Losing a child can never be fully repaid no matter what you do.

[kimchipig]

I lived and worked in South Korea from 1995-2004 and even then the chaebol ran the place. I was a university professor and getting a job at Samsung was the number one priority with every student I ever taught. The whole society gears parents for this process even before their baby is born. It has to be the "right" pre-school, kindergarten, elementary school right up to Seoul National University. The real determiner is money for extra lessons. The rich have private tutors for their kids, which gives them a huge advantage over poorer families. Often, an entire clan will throw all their resources behind one talented child, almost always a boy. On more than one occasion, I tutored poor kids in exchange for food in the family restaurant. Working class Koreans are salt of the earth. Lovely people.

[PK-vwgd]

How strong that father is, he is literally smiling and keeping the memory focused on the happiness of Yumi. Not once you see him lose control. Meanwhile we all balling our eyes out here...