Jeonjangyeon "Accept Court Mediation Proposal, Will Board Within 5 Minutes"

Seoul City and Seoul Metro Corporation Demand Acceptance of Adjustment Proposal and Apology

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a press conference on the 5th at Samgak Station on Subway Line 4 in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, urging the expansion of the budget for disability rights. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) decided to accept the court's mediation proposal issued last month.

On the 1st, Jeonjangyeon stated, "Regrettably, we accept the court's mediation," and demanded, "Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Seoul Metro Corporation should also accept the judiciary's mediation proposal."

On the 19th of last month, the Seoul Central District Court forcibly mediated in a damages lawsuit filed by the Metro Corporation against Jeonjangyeon and its representative Park Kyung-seok, ordering the corporation to install elevators in 19 subway stations by 2024 and Jeonjangyeon to cease protests during train operations.

Additionally, if subway boarding and alighting protests delay train operations by more than 5 minutes, Jeonjangyeon must pay the corporation 5 million KRW per incident.

Jeonjangyeon stated on the day, "We willingly agree to limit subway boarding to within 5 minutes," adding, "If boarding is within 5 minutes, wouldn't the civil rights of persons with disabilities be guaranteed?"

They further pointed out, "The court's mediation does not specify any measures regarding the corporation's failure to install elevators, making it an unfair mediation," and urged an official apology from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the corporation.

Jeonjangyeon announced that they would resume subway boarding and alighting protests starting from the 2nd of this month, citing that only 0.8% of the requested budget for disability rights was reflected in this year's government budget passed by the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th of last month.

In response, Mayor Oh warned on the 26th of last month that if Jeonjangyeon resumes subway protests, all legal actions, both civil and criminal, would be taken.