Jeonjangeon to Resume Mobility Rights Protest on 21st
Urges Response from Choo Kyung-ho, Minister of Economy and Finance Nominee
"Will Stop Protest If Commitment to Rights Budget Announcement Is Made"
"Late for Commute," Some Citizens Express Complaints
Others Raise Voices of Solidarity with Jeonjangeon
Disabled individuals affiliated with the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) are protesting by boarding the subway during the morning commute at City Hall Station on Seoul Subway Line 2 on the 21st. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The "Disability Mobility Rights Protest" by the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) resumed after 22 days. As a result, subway operations during the morning commute were delayed by several tens of minutes, leading to mixed reactions from citizens. While some criticized Jeonjangyeon for the inconvenience caused during the commute, others sympathized with the disability mobility rights protest and joined the "solidarity protest."
About 250 members of Jeonjangyeon and disability rights activists held a subway boarding and alighting protest around 7 a.m. on the 21st at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 and City Hall Station on Line 2. The protest involved participants in wheelchairs lining up on the platform and boarding the train in a row, then moving through several train cars to alight at different platforms. This caused the trains to stop moving for several tens of minutes.
This marks the first time Jeonjangyeon resumed the mobility rights protest since April 30, after 22 days. Park Kyung-seok, co-executive director of Jeonjangyeon, stated during the protest, "The Presidential Transition Committee has not given an official response," and added, "Finance Minister nominee Choo Kyung-ho must announce his position on the disability rights budget at the confirmation hearing on May 2. If he promises to make a statement, we will stop the 'boarding the subway during the morning commute' protest until that day."
On the morning of the 21st, Park Kyung-seok, former co-executive director of Jeonjangyeon, is holding a protest demanding a disability rights budget and measures for the mobility rights of disabled people / Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, the Presidential Transition Committee announced on the 19th measures to guarantee mobility rights for the disabled, including ▲expanding barrier-free transportation environments ▲installing at least one elevator in each subway station ▲introducing 100% disabled call taxis by 2027 ▲considering the introduction of a personal budget system for the disabled.
However, Jeonjangyeon's position is that the urgent priority is the concrete "budget confirmation" necessary to guarantee the basic rights of the disabled. They pointed out that without sufficient budget, improvements to infrastructure for disabled mobility cannot be properly implemented.
Regarding this, Co-executive Director Park expressed at a press conference on the 21st, "The Transition Committee has not given an official response regarding the budget," and lamented, "Their briefing was nothing more than parroting what the two major parties have repeated over the past 20 years in power."
◆"The damage is too widespread" vs "Mobility rights must be guaranteed for everyone" - Citizens' opinions divided
With no narrowing of positions between the Transition Committee and Jeonjangyeon, citizens' reactions to the subway boarding and alighting protest were divided.
A 20-something office worker, Mr. A, who was delayed about an hour getting to work due to the protest, said, "I left earlier than usual but arrived much later. It was frustrating," and added, "I understand the inconvenience and pain experienced by the disability group, but if such a protest method causing widespread damage continues, it will only accumulate complaints from other citizens."
On the morning of the 21st, a placard containing Jeonjangyeon's demands was attached to the platform of Gyeongbokgung Station on Subway Line 3 in Jongno-gu, Seoul / Photo by Yonhap News
Another office worker, Mr. B (31), said, "The subway is a transportation means used by millions daily, and among them are people in emergencies or with important matters ahead," and questioned, "What about those people?"
On the other hand, some expressed strong sympathy for Jeonjangyeon's protest. Ms. C, in her 30s, said, "We non-disabled people who can move without wheelchairs enjoy enormous privileges compared to the disabled," and added, "The disabled have endured such inconveniences for over 20 years, so I think we should show more consideration."
At Seoul National University Station on Line 2, four university students belonging to the group "Seoul National University Students in Solidarity with Jeonjangyeon" held a so-called "solidarity protest." They held placards with phrases such as "Mobility rights are rights everyone must be guaranteed" and "We stand in solidarity with Jeonjangyeon," expressing their support.
Meanwhile, Co-executive Director Park and about 50 activists who participated in the subway boarding and alighting protest urged the Transition Committee and political circles for a response and directly apologized to commuters. During the protest, he shouted, "Members of the National Assembly participating in the confirmation hearing of nominee Choo, please ask questions about the disability rights budget demand. Please get answers," and said, "Citizens, we are truly sorry."
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