'Democratic Rights Picture Book'

'Democratic Rights Picture Book' is a non-fiction picture book series (8 volumes in total) published by Sakyejul Publishing company in collaboration with the Democratic Movement Commemoration. The books take a closer look at the modern society we live in and identify various social agendas, which are then presented in picture books. Discrimination and inequality, migrant labor, gender roles, sensitivity to violence, and the meaning of democracy and human rights are presented in these picture books that children and adults can relate to and easily understand in their daily lives.
The series features a number of authors who are currently working on picture books, each with their own unique body of work. Winners of the Bologna Ragazzi Award, BIB, and Korea Picture Book Award, as well as unique picture book authors with strong fan bases, joined us. Thirteen picture book authors from Korea and abroad agreed with the intention of the Democratic Rights Picture Book and actively participated in this project.
The 'Democracy and Human Rights Picture Book Project' was launched in early 2022 with the intention of establishing picture books as an exhibition content in the field of Korea's contemporary history. The project, which was executed with the hope that the values of democracy and human rights would be conveyed to future generations through the high artistic and communicative power of picture books, has now come to fruition and will be published as a picture book.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
written and illustrated by Chang Jae Eun

Tao's story began with an article by a female migrant worker. A desperate story of being an undocumented foreigner, working in a work environment that exposes her to occupational accidents, having no medical insurance, having to raise her children alone in the same undocumented status, and not knowing when she will be deported. This is one person’s story, but it is the reality of many migrant workers in our society. Their lives in Korea are reflected in a day in the life of Tao.
The author personally visited Daegu Seong-seo Industrial Complex and painted the scenery of the workplace: the complicated machinery, the factory interior littered with sharp parts, and the bustling market during the crackdown on undocumented foreigners. Through vivid descriptions and sensitive pacing, the author captures the emotions of the characters' lives: the long, hard hours and the feeling of being ignored and marginalized by their seemingly friendly Korean coworkers. But underneath it all, we see laughter, caring, and gratitude.
In order to truly understand the lives of others, we need to take away our assumptions and see them anew. The author threw away her fake-colored glasses and went deep into the field to create this picture book to capture the real message. By bringing readers one step away from reality, she leads them to appreciate the human rights of migrant workers.
Tao's life won't stay this way for long. As his daughter grows up and gets older, they may find themselves in the harsh realities of society more often. For today, as we end our story with a happy evening together, we hope that Tao's story is a warm glimpse into the lives of our neighbors who share the same land and the same time.