Lee Jun-seok Refuses to Apologize Over Jeon Jang-yeon’s Apology Demand

"Explicitly Demand an Apology"
"Protests Blocking Commute Violate Laws"
Jeonjangyeon Announces Shaved-Head Protest to Urge Response from Transition Team

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 21st and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Regarding the remarks made during the protest for disabled people's mobility rights, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who was asked to apologize by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), stated on the 30th that he "will not apologize."

On the same day, through Facebook, Lee said, "Jeonjangyeon can fight with any message they want," adding, "They should abandon the wrong mindset of achieving their goals through illegal means and causing inconvenience to unspecified general citizens." He also added, "The media seems to be trying to create division by asking various questions to the Presidential Transition Committee, but I was the one who made the elected president's low-floor bus pledge."

Regarding this controversy, Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the president-elect, stated in a briefing that "President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol pledged during the election process to protect the mobility rights of the disabled, including low-floor buses," and added, "Ensuring this is well implemented is also our task and duty."

On the same day, Lee continued his offensive against the disability groups during an appearance on BBS Radio. He said, "Jeonjangyeon says they have 'waited for 20 years,' but I pointed out that they should not take the approach of stopping Seoul subway operations," claiming, "It is already a violation of the law." He also argued against the claim of 'disability hate,' saying, "In our country, hate is used too lightly," and "For disability hate to be established, there must be specific words or actions that demean disabled people, but there are none."

The day before, Park Kyung-seok, co-chairman of Jeonjangyeon, publicly demanded an apology from Lee during a meeting with Im I-ja, secretary of the Social Welfare and Culture Division of the Presidential Transition Committee, saying, "Please convey to Lee, who is the representative of a political party and soon to be the ruling party leader, to apologize for his distorted remarks."

Jeonjangyeon issued a statement again on the same day demanding Lee's apology and announced a vow to hold a head-shaving protest to urge the Transition Committee's response regarding the budget for disabled people's rights.

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