Lee Jun-seok "Hostages cannot be subjects of apology... Figurative expression"

Kim Yeji's Knee Apology: "I Have No Right to Apologize"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, repeatedly emphasized that the subway protest by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) "taking Seoul citizens hostage" is an expression that "cannot be subject to any apology."

On the 29th, Lee said on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Start Morning,' "If you take issue with even that expression, there is nothing that can be said in the Republic of Korea."

Regarding the previous day when People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ye-ji knelt and apologized on behalf of Lee at the Jeonjangyeon protest site, he drew a line by saying, "Lawmaker Kim is neither my spokesperson nor chief secretary, so she does not have the authority to do that," calling it an "independent action."

He said, "I am not criticizing the fact that people with disabilities are protesting," and added, "Seoul citizens are not the target of the disabled people's struggle." He further explained, "The expression 'do not take as hostage and protest' is an idiomatic expression, so what is the problem with that? If you want social discourse in our society to be handled like I do, there should be no criticism of such sacred terms or expressions."

Lee criticized, "Seoul subway has a 'network effect.' For example, if someone who needs to go down to Sadang Station at the bottom by taking Line 4 has to take Line 2, but they cannot get off, causing a crowd to move at once, then Line 2 also becomes congested."

Regarding Jeonjangyeon's demands, he pointed out, "(Jeonjangyeon) talks about the mobility rights of the disabled and demands things like elevator installation. But all of that is being done." He noted, "They criticize that it is not 100% completed, but about 94% has been done so far."

He added, "It is a controversial issue," and said, "Listen to us; if you don't, I will stop the Seoul subway wheelchair and hold it for 30 minutes. I think this is not an attitude for dialogue."