Gominjeong Arrives at National Assembly in Wheelchair: "Many Things Can't Be Felt Without Being the Person Involved"

"Elevator Installation, Not the End but the Beginning of 'Disability Mobility Rights'"

Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung commuted to the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, using a wheelchair on the subway. Photo by Ko Min-jung Facebook capture [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung shared her experience of commuting to the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, by wheelchair.

On the 6th, Ko posted on her Facebook, "I commuted by wheelchair from Gangbyeon Station to National Assembly Station," adding, "Even after just one day of using a wheelchair, my arms ache."

Ko explained the difficulties she encountered while commuting by wheelchair. She said, "The turnstiles that don’t open automatically even when you tap your card, the anxiety of worrying whether the wheels might get stuck between the platform and the train, the awkwardness of having to stay in the aisle instead of a seat, and the deep breaths I had to take whenever I saw even a small slope. The height difference between the subway and platform thresholds made wheelchair movement impossible, and the elevators were too far away."

She continued, "There were many things I couldn’t have understood without experiencing them firsthand. There are several elevators that have not been repaired for years, wide gaps on the platforms, and today I finally understood why subway elevator doors have to stay open for 20 seconds. Those 20 seconds mean that one disabled person’s caregiver has to stand by each elevator."

In conclusion, Ko said, "I personally felt that the right to mobility for people with disabilities does not end with the installation of elevators but is just the beginning. I will work harder to ensure that social awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities are firmly established. Together, we can make a way."

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