Jiwoong Kwon, Joonseok Lee Criticized for 'Disability Protest' Comments: "Inappropriate... Need to Address Protest Reasons"

"An Approach That Attacks the Protest Itself as 'Very Wrong'"

Kwon Ji-woong, Emergency Response Committee member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly representative office on the 25th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jung-wan] Kwon Ji-ung, Emergency Response Committee member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, for posting a message criticizing a disabled group conducting delayed subway protests, saying "the content of the post is very inappropriate."

On the 28th, Kwon appeared on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' and said, "(Leader Lee) is trying to solve the problem by attacking the protest itself, saying it is very wrong."

Leader Lee recently posted several critical posts on his Facebook regarding the subway protests during commuting hours by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon). On the 27th, he wrote, "Jeonjangyeon must abandon their self-righteousness, and if they do not accept the alternatives presented, they must abandon the stubbornness that they can make unreasonable demands by holding Seoul citizens hostage," adding, "If we tolerate the protest method of 'the inconvenience of an unspecified majority for special attention to us,' the order of our society will collapse."

Regarding this, Kwon said, "Of course, citizens riding the subway are experiencing inconvenience, and it is right to quickly resolve that inconvenience," but emphasized, "The problem is not solved by banning protests and silencing the voices of transportation-vulnerable groups, but by resolving the reasons why the protests are happening."

He stated, "Since the enactment of the Act on the Use of Transportation for the Transportation-Disadvantaged in 2005, it has actually been difficult for transportation-vulnerable groups to access transportation such as subways, buses, and intercity buses. In other words, their rights have been infringed upon," and argued, "I think the appropriate approach is to resolve this protest by solving that problem."

He added, "It is concerning that the protest itself is being distorted only as 'very bad' or 'infringing on someone's rights.'"

Regarding the People Power Party's decision not to apply a nomination quota system based on gender, age, etc., in the June 1 local elections, he pointed out, "Leader Lee appeared through youth quotas and enjoyed those benefits, but there is concern that he may not give those benefits to the next generation."

Kwon said, "Considering fairness in the examination process, Leader Lee's argument can gain some support," but criticized, "Considering the content and conditions of life, just having fairness in the examination process does not create conditions for citizens to live more equally in the end."

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