Korean Veterans Association: "'Hate Inciting' Lee Jun-seok Lacks Qualifications... Resign as Party Leader"

"Lee, who called for 'state power intervention' in protests, has a flawed perception of disabilities"

Representatives from the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a boarding protest on the 24th at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3, demanding the guarantee of mobility rights for persons with disabilities. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The Korea Federation of Organizations of the Disabled (Korea Federation) condemned Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who has been continuously criticizing the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), which is conducting subway boarding and alighting protests nationwide. The federation stated that he "incites hatred instead of walking with the vulnerable."

On the 28th, Korea Federation issued a statement titled "Inciting hatred instead of walking with the vulnerable, Lee Jun-seok, who lacks the qualifications of a party leader, must resign," urging Lee to step down.

Previously, Lee sparked controversy by saying that Jeonjangyeon, which demands the guarantee of mobility rights for the disabled and protests in the subway during commuting hours, was "taking citizens' commuting hostage." At the party's Supreme Council meeting on the 28th, he also criticized, "Jeonjangyeon continues illegal protests from an uncivilized perspective that causes the greatest unhappiness and inconvenience to the majority."

In response, Korea Federation pointed out, "Soon, the leader who will rise to 7th in the national protocol order as the ruling party leader has ordered public authority intervention in the disabled protests," adding, "It is deplorable. The perception of disability by the leader of a country's political party is gravely mistaken. Lee's remarks are not mere slips of the tongue. Over the weekend, he posted more than 10 posts on Facebook, stubbornly holding onto his views."

They further stated, "Lee's sense of fairness contradicts common sense," and "There is no trace of the value of equal opportunity to resolve inequality," criticizing, "In Lee's Facebook comments, hateful remarks against the disabled and division between disabled and non-disabled people are endlessly reproduced."

Korea Federation said, "While our federation does not support Jeonjangyeon's protest methods, we strongly empathize with their concerns," and added, "For the country to be not just 'good to live in' but 'livable' for the disabled, we have no choice but to fight against forces that promote inequality and hatred toward the disabled."

Moreover, the organization stated, "As a politician, Lee's baseless criticism is wrong. It is time for politicians to responsibly propose alternatives, and removing the protesters will not cover up the problem," and raised their voice, saying, "Lee must soberly study and properly consider what measures should be taken to realize the social participation and equality rights of the disabled guaranteed by the Disability Discrimination Act, and what constitutes hatred against the disabled."