Citizens "Why During Rush Hour", "Need to Hear Voices" Various Opinions
Jangchongryeon Urges 'Jeonjangyeon National Apology' Protest
Park Kyung-seok, co-representative of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), is staging a boarding protest at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 on the 21st, urging the securing of the disability rights budget. Jeonjangyeon resumed the "commuting subway ride" protest from 7 a.m. that day, criticizing the lack of concrete implementation plans for "guaranteeing the disability rights budget" and the "four major disability livelihood bills." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "I wish they would change their protest methods a bit," "I hope the political sphere resolves this properly."
A disability organization resumed subway boarding protests during the morning commute on the 21st. Among citizens, various opinions have emerged, ranging from criticism such as "Why hold such protests during the busy morning commute?" to calls for listening to the demands of people with disabilities. Meanwhile, another disability organization strongly criticized this protest, deepening social conflicts over the movement rights guarantee protests. There are also criticisms that the political sphere is failing to properly address the issues that need to be resolved.
On this day, the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) held the "27th Morning Commute Subway Ride" protest from 7 a.m. at City Hall Station on Line 2, Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3, and Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5. The group stated that they would stop the protest if Choo Kyung-ho, the nominated Minister of Economy and Finance, promises to announce a position guaranteeing the budget for disability rights during the confirmation hearing.
Jeonjangyeon appealed, "We apologize to the citizens who may experience inconvenience during the morning commute. Nevertheless, we speak with a heavy heart that we have no choice but to take the subway again during the morning commute," adding, "The fundamental problem causing people to take the subway during the morning commute is that the constitutional spirit guaranteeing equality before the law and non-discrimination for everyone in the Constitution of the Republic of Korea has not been upheld."
They continued, "The essence of the issue that has been shouted for 21 years to the government and civil society of the Republic of Korea is inequality of rights rather than economic inequality. And persons with disabilities have not been equal before the law and have been continuously discriminated against," they emphasized.
Citizens expressed various opinions. Kim, a man in his 30s working at a company located in Jung-gu, Seoul, who said he was late for work due to the protest, said, "I have heard a lot about what Jeonjangyeon is saying through the news," but added, "I wish they would refrain from protesting during the commute." He added, "Because the protest methods are rough, people do not listen properly, and the vicious cycle seems to continue."
Another office worker in his 40s, Park, said, "It seems like a fight with no answer," and added, "The political sphere is showing a lot of interest, but I hope they look into it more deeply."
Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil (right) visited the Jeonjangyeon sit-in site in front of the Yeouido Irum Center on the 20th and greeted co-representative Park Kyung-seok. [Image source=Yonhap News]
So far, various views have emerged in the political sphere regarding Jeonjangyeon's protests and the guarantee of disability human rights. Song Young-gil, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the Jeonjangyeon protest site at the Irum Center in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 20th, where they were holding a sit-in, and earlier on the 6th, Democratic Party lawmakers collectively took wheelchairs to their morning commute.
Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the emergency committee meeting that day, "This morning (the 6th), I commuted from Bonghwasan Station to the National Assembly by wheelchair," and "Many lawmakers willingly participated in Rep. Choi Hye-young's 'wheelchair subway commute proposal.'" He added, "The discomfort I felt during the hour and a half of travel was very significant," saying, "I wobbled on small curbs and my whole body tensed even on shallow slopes. Throughout the subway ride and while transferring to the bus, I was conscious of the stares directed at me in the wheelchair and kept looking down."
Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon wrote on his Facebook, "The evenly paved sidewalk blocks and the marble floor of the subway station were so welcoming, and the uphill felt so heavy. I also carefully examined the 'text notification service' notice attached to the subway elevator," adding, "It was a morning that reminded me once again of the mission and responsibility to create an era of coexistence, not discrimination and hatred."
Jin Sung-jun, deputy floor leader, said, "Today's experience made me realize that we need not vague barrier-free measures but more meticulous and detailed ones," and added, "We will work hard to ensure the proper passage of the representative disability support bills requested by Jeonjangyeon, including the ▲Disability Facility Support Act ▲Disability Rights Guarantee Act ▲Transportation Convenience Promotion Act for the Mobility-Impaired ▲Lifelong Education Act for Persons with Disabilities."
On the 20th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Jong-sung, a member of the National Assembly, who embarked on a field visit to explore measures to improve mobility convenience for transportation-vulnerable groups, are boarding a KTX train using a wheelchair lift at Cheongnyangni Station in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Corps
On the 20th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, experienced the KTX wheelchair lift at Cheongnyangni Station in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on Disability Day. On this day, Lee said, "Regarding the discussion on mobility rights, the People Power Party has been having practical discussions since the presidential election," and "We will put more thought and budget into implementing a railway system where persons with disabilities can easily board without using lifts or auxiliary means on general railways."
Lee continued, "We have been considering disability transportation in the railway sector," and said, "I want to express my commitment to the public and disabled voters at Cheongnyangni Station. Securing intercity transportation means to eliminate problems in intercity movement is the task."
On the morning of the 20th, next to the container of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination placed in front of the Irum Center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (right), there is a container installed by the Korea Federation of Organizations of the Disabled. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the other hand, there are views that Jeonjangyeon's protests are outright wrong. Previously, the conservative-leaning Korea Federation of Organizations of the Disabled (Kangchongryeon) and the Korea Transportation Disabled Association installed a container in front of the Irum Center in Yeouido-dong on the 20th, Disability Day. This location has been where Jeonjangyeon has installed containers and held sit-ins.
Kangchongryeon and the Transportation Disabled Association named the container "Gyeyeongbae (戒盈杯, a cup that overflows when full) House." This is interpreted as a criticism that Jeonjangyeon's protests are excessive. The groups explained, "It means that when persons with disabilities claim welfare and rights, they should be cautious not to overflow."
Lee Jung-gap, secretary-general of the Korea Transportation Disabled Association, said, "I agree with Jeonjangyeon's justification and the necessity of mobility rights for persons with disabilities," but raised his voice, saying, "Although Jeonjangyeon does not represent all disability organizations, by forcibly continuing subway commute protests, a negative image of persons with disabilities is accumulating among citizens."
Meanwhile, Kangchongryeon and the Transportation Disabled Association plan to hold rallies on the 21st, when Jeonjangyeon resumed subway protests, in front of National Assembly Station on Seoul Subway Line 9, demanding a public apology from Jeonjangyeon, and at the Irum Center, calling for the removal of Jeonjangyeon's container box.
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