Disabled activist disrupting city bus operations sent to prosecution... Jeonjangyeon "Will do our best for legal response"

On the 30th, at the Gyeongbokgung Station platform of Seoul Subway Line 3 in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Lee Hyung-sook, chairperson of the Seoul Disabled Independent Living Center Council, is shaving her head during a resolution ceremony for a head-shaving protest urging the transition team to respond to demands for the disability rights budget and related law amendments organized by the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Two activists belonging to the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), who recently held protests for the mobility rights of persons with disabilities, have been referred to the prosecution.

According to the police on the 11th, the Jongno Police Station in Seoul sent two activists from Jeonjangyeon to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office without detention the day before. They are suspected of obstructing business and violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act by disrupting city bus operations while demanding the 100% introduction of low-floor buses and the expansion of special transportation services from May to June last year.

Three activists who protested for the right to deinstitutionalization of persons with disabilities were also referred to the prosecution at the end of last month. In January last year, disabled activists set up tents at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul and held an unauthorized assembly, resulting in their non-detained referral on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. About 30 to 40 people participated in the assembly, but only the organizers were reportedly referred to the prosecution.

An investigation is also underway into Park Kyung-seok, the former co-representative of Jeonjangyeon, who recently held protests involving boarding and alighting at Gyeongbokgung Station and other subway stations. The Hyehwa Police Station in Seoul has booked Park and related persons on charges of obstructing electric railway traffic and business obstruction. Seoul Metro filed a complaint last year, stating that Jeonjangyeon delayed subway operations for a total of 5 hours and 39 minutes from January to November.

Park stated, “I will do my best in legal responses and explanations,” and added, “I will also respond legally to other legal issues through lawyers.”

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