[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The operation of the Seoul Subway Line 4 northbound train was delayed by about 30 minutes due to a boarding protest by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon).
Seoul Metro announced on its official social media account on the afternoon of the 20th, "At Samgakji Station on Line 4, due to the Jeonjangyeon protest, northbound trains (toward Sookdaeipgu) are passing through Samgakji Station without stopping." It added, "Depending on the situation, the non-stop passage may continue, so please take note when using the service."
At Samgakji Station, it was reported that two members, including Jeonjangyeon representative Park Kyung-seok, who were conducting a boarding protest from 3:53 p.m., lay down at the subway platform doors, causing train operations to stop for 30 minutes. Seoul Metro judged that such subway operation disruptions would continue and reportedly implemented non-stop passage from 4:24 p.m.
Earlier, Jeonjangyeon held a rally at the Seoul Station platform on Line 4 from 9 a.m. to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Oido Station lift fall accident. Then, about 30 activists attempted to board the subway 16 times from platform 4-4 toward Sookdaeipgu around 10:20 a.m., but were blocked by Seoul Metro officials. In addition to Seoul Station, Jeonjangyeon conducted publicity campaigns demanding the guarantee of mobility rights for the disabled at Oido Station at 8 a.m. and Yongsan Station at 10 a.m.
The subway boarding protest on this day was due to the failure of a meeting between Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Jeonjangyeon. A private joint meeting between Mayor Oh and disability organizations was scheduled for the previous day, but was canceled after Jeonjangyeon demanded a one-on-one meeting and did not attend. Jeonjangyeon issued a statement expressing regret over the failed meeting and proposed "an open dialogue for social consensus" to Mayor Oh.
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