Jeonjangyeon Confirms Differences in Position, Resumes Subway Protests from the 14th

Urging the Ministry of Economy and Finance to Reflect the Budget by March 23

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] On the 2nd, the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), which failed to narrow differences in position during a meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, announced that if the budget issue is not resolved, it plans to resume subway protests on the 14th.

Park Kyung-seok, the representative of Jeonjangyeon, said around 8 a.m. on the 3rd at Hyehwa Station on Seoul Subway Line 4, "If our demands are not accepted by the deadline of the 13th, which is the grace period, we will board [the subway]," adding, "We ask citizens to demand what we want from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance."

He also added, "We intended to board the subway today, but since several civic groups decided to join, we set the date to the 13th."

The day before, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jeonjangyeon met in one place and held a 50-minute conversation, but it ended with only confirmation of their differences in position. Mayor Oh repeatedly urged restraint from extreme protest actions, while Jeonjangyeon emphasized that the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, which holds the authority to allocate the budget, should be allowed to allocate the budget for the mobility rights of persons with disabilities.

Representative Park repeatedly requested Mayor Oh to assist so that the Ministry of Strategy and Finance can reflect the budget by the 23rd of next month. He also questioned, "When demanding basic rights, those responsible all say they are sincere," adding, "Politicians, the president, everyone says they are sincere, so why has the budget not been reflected for such a long time?"

Park said, "Even if 99 out of 100 citizens hate and divide, I will stand with the one citizen," and asked, "We ask for citizens' actions to communicate together with Jeonjangyeon."