Arbeitsverhalten und Widerstand in den kollektiven Erzählungen südkoreanischer Bergarbeiter in Westdeutschland

Abstract

This article examines the working behavior and resistance of South Korean miners sent to West Germany in the 1960s and 1970s as guest workers. Drawing on Alf Lüdtke’s scholarship (1989, 1993), the concept of „Eigen-Sinn“ is applied to illustrate the nature of these miners’ behavior, examining whether and in what contexts it is linked to resistance. Autobiographical narratives and media reports, among other sources, form the empirical data. To begin with, the selection process for miners sent abroad is cast against the backdrop of the socioeconomic inequalities existing between South Korea and West Germany. Next, the social construction of reality on arrival in Europe is outlined. Basic elements such as prevailing mood and emotional state, experiencing a confined living space, and the meaning of work are presented as key elements. Focus is then directed toward the self-willed behavior of these miners and, furthermore, to its relationship to protest. First, the coping with their daily work challenges is depicted. Second, everyday struggles with coworkers are scrutinized in relation to spontaneous and coordinated activism. In concluding, the insights gained regarding the relationship between Eigen-Sinn and resistance are elaborated on and the overall findings summarized.