Seoul Metro Removes Stickers from Jeon Jang-yeon Protest at Samgakji Station

On the 27th at around 10:30 AM, about 30 workers including cleaning staff and security guards are scheduled to work

Jeonjangyeon says, "If you remove them, we will put on twice as many"... The situation has become unbearable

Due to unauthorized posting of flyers on platform floors and walls during protests, citizens experience inconvenience and cleaning workers face increased difficulties, making removal inevitable

On the 13th, the unauthorized flyers or paint applied on the floor of Samgakji Station platform were being removed. The cost required for removal was approximately 1.2 million won.

Seoul Metro will begin cleaning to remove illegal postings that the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (referred to as Jeonjangyeon) illegally attached at Samgakji Station on Line 4 starting from 10:30 AM on the 27th to ensure citizen convenience and safety.

Additionally, the company requested that stickers not be posted, citing the severe hardship caused to cleaning workers by the act of attaching stickers.

Unauthorized posting of flyers is illegal; Jeonjangyeon insists on posting stickers, threatening to double them if removed

Jeonjangyeon has been posting various unauthorized stickers and flyers containing their demands inside subway stations and trains without permission during protests to raise awareness about securing budgets for deinstitutionalization and enacting the Lifelong Education Act for Persons with Disabilities.

Posting unauthorized flyers inside subway facilities not only spoils the aesthetics but also poses risks such as slip accidents, and is prohibited by various laws (Railway Safety Act, Outdoor Advertising Act, etc.). Seoul Metro has repeatedly requested Jeonjangyeon to refrain from posting flyers and has tried to stop them, but Jeonjangyeon has mobilized many activists to persist with the illegal acts, claiming it is necessary to achieve their protest goals.

At Hyehwa Station, where Jeonjangyeon has been posting flyers without permission for the past two years, they obstructed Seoul Metro’s removal efforts by saying, "If you remove the flyers, we will post twice as many and even paint over them." Conflicts have also occurred between citizens who voluntarily removed stickers and Jeonjangyeon.

On February 13th, at Samgakji Station, Jeonjangyeon posted flyers on the platform floor without permission. When station managers and staff tried to stop them due to concerns about slip accidents, Jeonjangyeon responded, "It’s difficult to remove them all now," and even threatened to write "Caution: Slippery" with lacquer (oil-based paint), causing further conflict.

Article 48 of the Railway Safety Act and Article 85 of its Enforcement Rules prohibit anyone from engaging in acts that harm railway protection and order without justifiable reason.

Article 5 of the Outdoor Advertising Act prohibits anyone from displaying or installing advertisements as specified in its clauses.

Behind Jeonjangyeon’s claims to rights lie the hidden hardships of cleaning workers

The cleaning staff responsible for removing Jeonjangyeon’s illegal flyers also suffer greatly. More than half of subway cleaning workers are over 60 years old, and removing stickers requires maintaining uncomfortable postures for long periods. The strong adhesive often necessitates the use of chemical solvents. Especially for stickers attached to train windows, workers must concentrate intensely to avoid scratching the glass, leaving them exhausted after the work.

Sticker removal at Samgakji Station... Seoul Metro is also considering claiming damages from Jeonjangyeon

About 20 to 30 people, including cleaning staff and subway security guards, will be mobilized for this removal operation. Since the flyers use strong adhesives, various chemicals will be needed for removal. The cost is estimated to be around 3.5 million KRW.

Lee Taerim, Director of Business Planning at Seoul Metro, stated, “At Samgakji Station, where Jeonjangyeon’s protests have been concentrated, citizens have experienced great inconvenience due to stickers attached to walls and floors during protests, and especially cleaning workers responsible for the station environment have faced increased hardships. We plan to temporarily restore the station environment damaged by various stickers and will consider demanding compensation from Jeonjangyeon for damages and removal costs caused by illegal acts under Article 750 of the Civil Act.”

He also requested Jeonjangyeon to “stop posting illegal stickers that jeopardize subway safety, cause inconvenience to citizens, and create difficulties for employees.”