"An Obvious Right" Yoon Transition Team Visits Subway Disabled Protest Site (Comprehensive)

Im I-ja and Kim Do-sik Scheduled to Attend Gwanghwamun Rally Tomorrow
"Will Listen to Demands and Reflect Them in Policy"

Representatives of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a boarding protest on the Seoul Subway Line 3 at Gyeongbokgung Station on the 24th, demanding the guarantee of mobility rights for persons with disabilities. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Joohee Kang] The Presidential Transition Committee announced on the 28th that it plans to visit the site of the nationwide protest organized by the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) to ensure the rights of people with disabilities, including their right to mobility.

Im Eija, secretary of the Social and Cultural Welfare Subcommittee, said during a Q&A session with reporters after a briefing that day, "Jeonjangyeon is communicating with Kim Dosik, a transition committee member (former Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul), and we plan to visit the subway station tomorrow (29th)."

Secretary Im said, "It is a very natural right to accompany policies with budgets to restore rights to people with disabilities," adding, "I think it is only natural to make such demands." She continued, "Since it is the Social Welfare Subcommittee, we will go, listen carefully, and organize the demands well so that they can be reflected in policies."

Earlier that day, Kim Yeji, a member of the People Power Party, knelt at the protest site as an apology. Accompanied by her guide dog Joy, Kim addressed the citizens on their way to work, saying, "I am sorry that you are experiencing what the political sphere has failed to resolve." She added, "As a politician, I deeply feel responsible," and said, "While it may not be 100% as you wish, I will do my best to inform and persuade regarding all budgets for guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities."

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) and Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party, are boarding Line 3 at Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 28th to participate in the subway protest "Taking the Subway on the Way to Work," which was held to demand the guarantee of mobility rights for persons with disabilities and the inclusion of disability rights budget.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jang Hyeyoung, a member of the Justice Party who was present at the scene, demanded that President-elect Yoon Seokyeol and Presidential Transition Committee Chair Ahn Cheolsoo show responsible attitudes. Jang said, "I believe this is the place where politics is truly needed and where they really should come," adding, "I want to demand that those responsible for change come to the protest, prepare for official and responsible meetings, listen to the voices of those demanding budgets to guarantee the right to mobility for a dignified life, and express a responsible stance to meet them."

Meanwhile, pressure from Leader Lee to stop the protest intensified. At the Supreme Council meeting that day, Leader Lee said, "The group called Jeonjangyeon continues illegal protests with an uncivilized view that their claims can only be realized by causing the greatest unhappiness and inconvenience to the majority," adding, "If this is tolerated, society will become a place of abnormal competition that causes the greatest fear and inconvenience rather than rational discussion and dialogue on all issues."

The People Power Party also began seeking internal solutions. Lee Jongsung, a People Power Party lawmaker and chair of the party’s Central Disability Committee, met with Leader Lee that day and said, "Leader Lee firmly stated that the illegal actions causing inconvenience to citizens must never be accepted," but also conveyed, "He said it is important to continuously develop and visualize more progressive measures than those claimed by the disability groups."

In a phone interview, Lee explained, "Leader Lee said that appeasing or apologizing to the groups as mere ‘lip service’ is not very important," adding, "According to Leader Lee, rather than that, he ordered to look for policies that can be visualized sooner, even before the government is launched."

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