SADD Resumes Morning Subway Protests After a Year, Causing Inconvenience for Commuters

Chaos on the Platform During Boarding Attempt
Subway Trains Skip Station for Over 20 Minutes

The Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) resumed its subway boarding protests after more than a year, causing inconvenience for commuters during the morning rush hour.

At 7:40 a.m. on April 21, protest participants were waiting on the Oido-bound platform at Hyehwa Station on Seoul Subway Line 4, while Seoul Metro employees stood in front of them holding shields. Commuters on their way to work covered their faces or sighed as they moved in a single file line through the crowd of protesters due to restricted passage. A member of the Human Rights Violation Monitoring Group protested, saying, "Isn't it impossible to pass because the security guards are blocking two lines?" and "How does the police have the authority to manage rallies and protests as part of their duty to maintain order?"

The protesters wore shirts with the phrase "An era where people with disabilities move as citizens" and held placards reading "Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon, the plunderer of disability rights, OUT" and "Enact a special law for rights-based, customized public jobs for people with severe disabilities." They chanted slogans such as "Let people with disabilities live together" and "Let us take the subway." Inside the station, announcements were made every 5 to 10 minutes, warning that failing to follow the instructions of railway staff violates the Railway Safety Act and ordering the immediate cessation of illegal protests and evacuation from the premises.

SADD began attempting to board the subway at 8:44 a.m., turning the platform into chaos. There were clashes between the protesters and police officers, as well as Seoul Metro employees. SADD reported that "Chairman Park Kyungseok collapsed and got caught in the subway door while trying to board." The departing subway train was unable to close its doors properly, causing a delay in departure, and from around 9:05 a.m., trains passed through the station without stopping for about 20 minutes.

This was the first time in about a year that SADD staged a subway boarding protest during the morning commute since April 8 of last year. Over the past year, instead of boarding protests, they had staged "die-in" demonstrations?lying down on the platform as if dead?to urge the National Assembly to pass disability rights legislation. However, as their demands have not been met, they have resumed the subway boarding protests.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.