Seoul City and Public Pressure... Jeonjangyeon Postpones Subway Protest Again

Jeonjangyeon Holds Press Conference Instead of Delay Protest at Samgakji Station
No Delay Protests Since the 25th of Last Month
Consultation with Seoul City on the 2nd... Possibility of Delay Protest

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) has decided to postpone the subway delay protest scheduled for the 14th by one month. It appears they are cautiously conducting the protest amid pressure from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and public opinion.

On the 13th, Jeonjangyeon held a "Moon Viewing Movement Declaration with Citizens" press conference around 8 a.m. at Samgak Station. Instead of a subway delay protest, Jeonjangyeon performed activities such as placing stickers on the floor at Samgak Station. / Photo by Gong Byungseon mydillon@

On the morning of the 13th, around 8 a.m., Jeonjangyeon held a 'Press Conference Declaring the Moon Viewing Campaign with Citizens' at Samgakji Station, announcing that they will not conduct subway delay protests until the 23rd of next month. Jeonjangyeon stated, "Until next month, we will urge the Ministry of Economy and Finance to reflect a meaningful level of the disability rights budget when formulating the 2024 government budget guidelines through the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting," adding, "We will wait for Minister Choo Kyung-ho of the Ministry of Economy and Finance to actively engage in dialogue." Although they did not carry out the subway delay protest that day, they performed a sticker campaign on the floor of Samgakji Station with slogans such as 'Let persons with disabilities live healthily together in the local community.' During this process, Park Kyung-seok, co-executive director of Jeonjangyeon, and the Samgakji Station manager had a verbal dispute.

Jeonjangyeon has not conducted subway delay protests since the 25th of last month. It seems they are hesitating due to strong pressure from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metro. In December last year, the Seoul Central District Court issued a compulsory mediation order to Jeonjangyeon, who was sued for damages by Seoul Metro, stating "Conduct subway delay protests within 5 minutes." Jeonjangyeon accepted this, but Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Seoul Metro did not accept the mediation. Eventually, the court issued a second mediation order deleting the damages clause for delays exceeding 5 minutes. Mayor Oh also urged restraint on protests during a meeting with Jeonjangyeon held on the 2nd.

This appears to be due to negative public opinion toward Jeonjangyeon's protests, which has weakened the protest momentum. At the press conference that day, Jeonjangyeon argued that the focus should be on discrimination against persons with disabilities and insufficient budgets, which are the causes of the protests, rather than intense protests. Jeonjangyeon stated, "Minister Choo, Mayor Oh, politicians from the People Power Party, and some media are dividing ordinary citizens and persons with disabilities," adding, "The 'extreme discrimination' that persons with disabilities have to endure remains unresolved."

For now, Jeonjangyeon has decided to continue dialogue with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. On the 2nd, Jeonjangyeon plans to hold a working-level consultation with the head of Seoul’s Welfare Policy Office. Through this consultation, they plan to confirm whether Seoul will urge the Ministry of Economy and Finance to reflect the disability rights budget and whether they will implement an invitation meeting with members of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities regarding recommendations on deinstitutionalization guidelines.

However, Jeonjangyeon has stated that if the desired results, such as the reflection of the disability rights budget, do not follow despite the working-level consultation, they will conduct a one-night, two-day protest at Samgakji Station from March 23 to 24. Jeonjangyeon said, "Although we are being criticized by citizens, we are more afraid of discrimination and exclusion, so we want to approach the citizens," adding, "We will raise our voices until the citizens are aware."