The Changwon Disability Rights Advocacy Group in Gyeongnam, which has been demanding the establishment of standards for paying instructors with developmental disabilities, clashed once again with Changwon City.
On the afternoon of the 27th, the Changwon Disability Rights Advocacy Group held a sit-in protest in front of the main building of Changwon Special City Hall, calling for the following: ▲establishment of payment standards for instructors with developmental disabilities that take into account their unique characteristics ▲abolition of detailed guidelines for the operation of Independent Living Centers and Disability Rights Centers ▲restoration of the budget for the Changwon City Disability Awareness Improvement Project.
The Changwon Disability Rights Assurance Group and the Changwon City authorities are engaged in a dispute over parking fee payments. Photo by Lee Seryeong
After hearing that negotiations with Changwon City had been reached, the group was heading back when a vehicle parked inside the city hall was asked to pay a parking fee, which the group insisted they would not pay.
Changwon City explained that the free parking period of one hour had expired and a fee was required, but the group argued that since their gathering was due to the city's administrative actions, they should not be charged.
The barrier that had blocked the vehicle of the Changwon Disability Rights Assurance Team was lifted. Photo by Lee Seryeong
A representative from the Senior and Disabled Persons Division paid the fee on behalf of the group, allowing the vehicle to leave city hall, but the group, including Center Director A, began arguing with the official who had demanded the payment.
The official stated, "Regardless of the reason for your visit, the free parking time of one hour has passed, so you must pay the fee."
In response, the group countered, "We did not come here by choice; we are here because Changwon City cut the budget for disability-related matters," and strongly insisted, "We were forced to come, so we cannot pay the fee."
The Changwon Disability Rights Assurance Group and the Changwon City officials are engaged in a dispute over parking fee payment. Photo by Lee Seryeong
The group further argued, "The official is letting personal feelings affect their work," demanding an apology. The city hall official responded, "I am just doing my job, so why should I apologize? Whether you wanted to come or not, you must pay the parking fee."
Center Director A emphasized, "If I had come for personal reasons, I would pay the parking fee, but today I came for public reasons, specifically because the city cut the budget. The important point is that I did not come here of my own will."
He added, "In the past, everyone was let out without paying," and claimed, "As a public official, you are harassing citizens."
The dispute between the two sides was finally resolved after mediation by city hall staff, security officers, and an intelligence officer from Changwon Jungbu Police Station.
Changwon Disabled Rights Protection Team and Changwon City officials are confronting each other in front of the main entrance of Changwon City Hall, Gyeongnam. Photo by Lee Seryeong
On this day, the Changwon Disability Rights Advocacy Group gathered at around 1 p.m. in front of Changwon Special City Hall and began their sit-in protest, attempting to enter the building.
Security officers and city hall staff blocked their way, and the standoff continued until around 3 p.m.
Subsequently, negotiations with the relevant department were resumed, and while waiting for the results, the group took shelter under the trees. Around 4 p.m., they shouted, "We won, we are victorious."
A group representative stated, "It has been conveyed that our demands, including the establishment of standards for paying instructors with developmental disabilities, have been accepted. Details will be organized and announced later."
Previously, on the 25th, Changwon City stated, "Instructor fees for people with developmental disabilities must be paid properly according to the guidelines."
"The disability awareness education project supported by Changwon City is an additional subsidy to the existing projects of the Disability Rights Center," they explained, "and matters such as instructor fees must comply with the operational guidelines for city and county Disability Rights Centers distributed annually by Gyeongnam Province."
They further argued, "At the time of the 2022 project application, there were no separate payment standards for instructors with developmental disabilities, and establishing new guidelines during the current project period does not match the original criteria. Standards for paying instructors with developmental disabilities should be reviewed when applying for the disability awareness education project."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
