Transition Team "Improving Quality of Life for Disabled" Jeon Jang-yeon "Lee Jun-seok Must Apologize" (Summary)

Jeonjangyeon Delivers 12 Major Policy Tasks and 40 Detailed Tasks
Transition Committee Requests Suspension of Morning Commutes Protests Considering Citizen Inconvenience
Jeonjangyeon Demands Apology from Lee Jun-seok... Lee Jun-seok Says "'Hostage' Expression Is Not Subject to Apology"

On the 29th, Lim Ija, secretary of the Social Culture and Welfare Division of the Transition Committee, and Kim Dosik, a transition committee member, held a meeting with members of the Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities at the meeting room of the Gyeongbokgung Operations Office, Seoul Metro Line 3, Gyeongbokgung Station, Seoul Transportation Corporation. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] The Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) announced on the 29th that it will seek solutions through communication by meeting with the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), which is holding protests during the morning commute to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.

The PTC's Social Welfare and Culture Subcommittee met with Park Kyung-seok, co-executive director of Jeonjangyeon, and Choi Yong-gi, chairman of the Korea Association of Centers for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities, in a meeting room at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3. They listened to demands related to ensuring mobility rights for persons with disabilities and reflecting disability rights budgets. From the PTC side, Im I-ja, secretary, Kim Do-sik, transition committee member, and Im In-taek, expert committee member, attended.

Jeonjangyeon delivered the "Disability Rights and Livelihood Four Laws Draft and Amendment Request Materials," which include 12 major policy tasks and 40 detailed tasks, requesting that these be reflected in the PTC's discussions. In response, Secretary Im said, "This is a project requiring a budget ranging from 80 billion to 2 trillion won, so there are parts that need to be reviewed in depth," adding, "We are reviewing issues that have not been resolved for 20 years in the short and medium term and discussing them with various ministries." Secretary Im also said, "I am also a person who is very interested in disability rights," and added, "I will communicate with various disability organizations to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities."

Afterwards, the PTC requested Jeonjangyeon to stop the subway protests during the morning commute. Secretary Im said, "While claiming rights is important, I hope protests that disrupt citizens' commutes will be avoided and considerate," adding, "We understand your feelings and urgency, so let's resolve this together through dialogue and communication." In response, Co-executive Director Park said, "We will discuss this in depth and provide our position."

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a press conference at the Gyeongbokgung Station platform in Seoul on the 29th, coinciding with the meeting with the Presidential Transition Committee. Photo by the Transition Committee Press Photographers Group

During the meeting, there was also discussion about Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, criticizing Jeonjangyeon. When Co-executive Director Park said, "Please convey that we demand an apology from Leader Lee, who will soon become the ruling party leader, for his distorted remarks," Secretary Im responded, "I will convey it."

Meanwhile, Leader Lee maintained a negative stance on Jeonjangyeon's protests. On the same day, on YTN Radio, he stated, "'Hostage' is not an expression that requires an apology at all," and regarding the PTC meeting, he said, "The PTC can visit as this is a social issue, but it is difficult to expect anything other than a firm response to illegal protests." On the 27th, he wrote on Facebook, "Jeonjangyeon must abandon the stubbornness that they can make unreasonable demands by holding Seoul citizens hostage," and the day before, he said, "They continue illegal protests with an uncivilized perspective that their claims are realized only when they cause the greatest unhappiness and inconvenience to the majority," continuing his criticism of Jeonjangyeon.

Jeonjangyeon held a publicity campaign urging the guarantee of disability rights immediately after the meeting at the platforms of Gyeongbokgung Station and Hyehwa Station on Seoul Subway Line 4.

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