[On-site Video] "Apologize" vs "Arrest Jeon Jang-yeon" Counter Rally in Front of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

Jeonjangeon "Non-installation of Elevators Violates the Act on Convenience for the Disabled"
Jayudaehan Hogukdan "The Same Legal Standards Should Apply to Disabled and Non-disabled People"

[Asia Economy Yoon Jin-geun PD] “The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency must provide proper convenience facilities in accordance with the law and principles!” (Jeonjangyeon)

“We request the application of arrest and detention warrants under current law against (Jeonjangyeon).” (Free Korea Patriotic Corps)

A rally by a disability group demanding an apology from the commissioner and a rally by a civic group calling for their detention investigation were held side by side in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) and the Free Korea Patriotic Corps held rallies near the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at 2 p.m. on the 2nd.

The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a press conference at 2 p.m. on the 2nd on the sidewalk opposite the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD yoon@

Jeonjangyeon held a press conference demanding that Kim Kwang-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, appear for a mock trial, claiming that some police stations without convenience facilities such as elevators on the sidewalk across from the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency violated the Act on Convenience Promotion for Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women.

Participants in the rally wore placards around their necks with phrases such as “Kim Kwang-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, violated the Act on Convenience Promotion for Persons with Disabilities” and “Kim Kwang-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, officially apologize.”

The group shouted slogans such as “The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency must provide proper convenience facilities in accordance with the law and principles” and “Publicly apologize for the statement threatening judicial action even to the ends of the earth.”

Jeonjangyeon pointed out that national institutions such as the police must comply with the Act on Convenience Promotion for Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women and provide facilities such as elevators for persons with disabilities inside the building.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities demanded that Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, appear at a mock trial near the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The photo shows Park Kyung-seok, former co-executive director of Jeonjangyeon, holding an enlarged printed notice of the mock trial proceedings. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD yoon@

Park Kyung-seok (61), co-executive director of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, said, “Commissioner Kim Kwang-ho must comply with the Act on Convenience Promotion for Persons with Disabilities.”

Jeonjangyeon announced that a mock trial against Commissioner Kim will be held at 3 p.m. on the 29th in Seminar Room 3 of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building.

The mock trial notice publicly disclosed by Co-executive Director Park listed Commissioner Kim as the defendant, and under the “case” section, it stated “Violation of the Act on Convenience Promotion for Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women.” On that day, Jeonjangyeon delivered the mock trial notice regarding the violation of the convenience law for persons with disabilities to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

On the afternoon of the 2nd, the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities demanded that Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, appear at a mock trial near the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The photo shows Park Kyung-seok, former co-executive representative of Jeonjangyeon, delivering a notice of the scheduled mock trial to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD yoon@

At the same time, the Free Korea Patriotic Corps held a vehicle protest next to the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, urging the detention investigation of Jeonjangyeon. They hung a banner on their vehicles with the phrase “Police neglect is fueling Jeonjangyeon’s illegal protests, detain Jeonjangyeon immediately” and criticized Jeonjangyeon.

They pointed out, “Jeonjangyeon is causing serious suffering to unspecified many citizens in order to assert their rights,” and “There was even an incident where 3 to 4 lanes were occupied.”

Oh Sang-jong (49), representative of the Free Korea Patriotic Corps, claimed that Jeonjangyeon’s “commuting subway ride” publicity intentionally delayed the subway, causing harm to the public, calling it an “illegal act.”

Oh said, “Even if Jeonjangyeon’s claims are legitimate, if the means and methods are wrong, they should have changed (their approach) to avoid harming the public,” adding, “The illegal subway operation delay protest is an issue that Jeonjangyeon should reconsider.” He continued, “(If Jeonjangyeon committed a crime) the law must be applied equally to illegal acts,” and asked Commissioner Kim, “Please apply the same legal standards to persons with disabilities as to non-disabled people.”