Lee Jun-seok's Remarks Criticizing Disabled Protest Draw Criticism Within People Power Party

Yoon Sang-hyun "Politics is the work of people with warm blood"
Na Kyung-won "Mocking and belittling disabled protests is not mature politics"
Lee Jun-seok "Jeonjangyeon finally changed protest method... This was the original demand"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is delivering a greeting during the pressure interview of the People Power Party spokesperson selection debate battle "2022 I am the National Representative" held at the central party office in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 28th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, has faced criticism from within his party for his remarks criticizing the subway protests during commuting hours organized by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon).

On the 29th, Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, posted on his Facebook, saying, "Jeonjangyeon’s delaying of subway operations, which are the means of transportation for citizens, causing inconvenience to the public, is illegal and clearly wrong," but he also opened by saying, "We need to consider why the disabled, as a vulnerable group, are going to such lengths."

He continued, "Only by mobilizing the masses can the political sphere and the government be moved. As a public politician, one should understand the power and influence of the public better than anyone else," adding, "While obstructing subway operations is certainly not right, the responsibility for that is a separate matter."

He pointed out, "As politicians, they should first listen to the voices calling for 'guaranteed mobility rights.' They have been advocating for mobility rights for 21 years, so we need to think about why they still resort to strong protests that block the subway."

Furthermore, Yoon said, "If all policies and administrations were to be resolved solely by reason, efficiency, and logic, then politics could be entrusted to AI. There would be no need for humans to engage in politics," emphasizing, "However, politics needs to pay more than usual attention to the vulnerable. For that, it must be done by 'people' with warm blood and hearts."

He also concluded by saying, "The People Power Party is now the ruling party. Because expectations for the People Power Party are high, the public hopes it will be warmer toward the vulnerable," and "The People Power Party must strive harder for fairness for the vulnerable."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won. / Photo by National Assembly Press Corps

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won also criticized Lee on the 28th via Facebook, saying, "I find it hard to agree with mocking or outright condemning the protest simply because 100% of subway stations do not have elevators."

Na, who is raising a daughter with Down syndrome, said, "Raising a child with a disability, experiencing countless frustrations and facing reality, I realized that if laws and systems are not properly in place, one has no choice but to rely on forceful protests," adding, "While Jeonjangyeon’s inconsistent protest attitudes are problematic, belittling and mocking are not signs of mature politics."

Meanwhile, Lee has repeatedly criticized Jeonjangyeon’s subway commuting protests. On the 26th, he wrote on Facebook, addressing Jeonjangyeon, "Stop the protest that is holding Seoul citizens hostage without any conditions. If you do not stop, I will go to the site of Jeonjangyeon’s illegal protest and publicly restrain you."

He added, "If Jeonjangyeon stops protesting and refrains from protests for a considerable period, I will meet them in a public place with the media present."

Later that day, he posted again on Facebook, saying, "Last weekend, there was much criticism of the method of blocking train departures by placing wheelchairs in the subway doors, but since yesterday, Jeonjangyeon has just been boarding," adding, "Ironically, since they are only boarding, no delays occur. If they had done this from the start, it would have been fine. They have only now changed their protest method. This was the original demand."

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