‘Subway Protest’ Park Kyung-seok, Former Jeonjangyeon Leader, Released One Day After Arrest

Police "Additional investigations will be conducted as needed in the future"

Park Kyung-seok (63), the representative of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), who was arrested on charges of leading illegal subway boarding protests, was released on the 18th, just one day after his arrest.

Seoul Namdaemun Police Station announced that Park was released around 8:13 p.m. on the same day after being questioned. The police executed an arrest warrant issued on charges of obstructing train traffic, obstructing business, and violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act against Park, who attended a press conference in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency building in Jongno-gu the previous day. A suspect detained under an emergency arrest or arrest warrant must either have a detention warrant requested from the court or be released within 48 hours.

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Barriers, who are under investigation for alleged illegal activities during a protest, held a press conference on the 19th before voluntarily appearing at the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul. Representative Park Kyung-seok is speaking. They left without undergoing questioning, claiming that the lack of an elevator inside the police station is illegal. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

A police official said, "If necessary, additional investigations will be conducted in the future."

According to the police, Park is accused of holding a total of 38 assemblies or subway boarding protests in various parts of downtown Seoul from January 2021 to January 20 of this year, occupying roads and disrupting train operations.

The police applied for an arrest warrant on the 15th after Park failed to respond to 18 summonses. The court issued the warrant on the 16th. Before appearing at the police station, Park had been demanding that all police stations in Seoul install elevators and other facilities for the convenience of persons with disabilities.