Disabled Rights Group Starts Head-Shaving Protest: "Transition Team's Disability Policies Actually Regress"

Jeonjangyeon "Plans to Resume Subway Delay Protests"

Representatives of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities held a press conference and a head-shaving ceremony on the 20th at the platform of Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging for the budget for disability rights and the amendment of related laws. They announced that they would resume the "Commuting Subway Ride" protest, which had been temporarily suspended, on the 21st, judging that the disability policies presented by the Presidential Transition Committee were insufficient. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the occasion of the 42nd Disabled Persons Day, disability rights organizations are intensifying their struggle. They have also announced that if the Presidential Transition Committee does not respond by the 20th to properly reflect the budget for disability rights, they will resume subway delay protests starting from the 21st.

On this day, the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) held the "16th day of head-shaving protest to urge the Transition Committee's response on the disability rights budget" at Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul. Six disabled persons issued a resolution and shaved their heads, demanding the Transition Committee guarantee the disability rights budget for the next year. After shaving, they walked to Gwanghwamun Station and then traveled by subway to Yeouido Station.

The subway delay protests will also resume. Jeonjangyeon stated, "Although the Transition Committee said they would review the disability rights budget, they have not provided any response beyond that, and Jeonjangyeon stopped the subway delay protests as of the 30th of last month," adding, "If this attitude continues until this day, we have no choice but to resume the subway delay protests." They plan to hold subway delay protests again around Gyeongbokgung Station and nearby areas starting from the 21st.

The day before, ahead of Disabled Persons Day, the Transition Committee announced policies including ▲the Personal Budget System for Persons with Disabilities ▲achieving a 100% introduction rate of disability call taxis by 2027 ▲mandatory replacement of all city buses with low-floor buses starting in 2023 ▲expansion of high-speed and intercity bus terminals accessible by wheelchair. However, Jeonjangyeon criticized the Transition Committee's policies as close to deception. Park Kyung-seok, Jeonjangyeon's representative, said, "The Transition Committee has not explained specific budget securing plans. Ultimately, the guarantee of disability rights will be sidelined as before," and added, "Achieving a 100% introduction rate of disability call taxis is a policy that should be implemented immediately next year, but postponing it until 2027 is proof that the policy has regressed."

The 420 Joint Struggle Group for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination, a coalition of disability rights organizations, also planned to hold a street march in the Yeouido area in the afternoon to urge the enactment and revision of four laws related to disability rights and livelihood. They will also hold a struggle resolution rally, demanding that disability rights be included in next year's budget.

However, inconvenience to commuting citizens seems inevitable. When disability activists board or alight from the subway or place wheelchair wheels between the platform and the subway, the subway is delayed by more than 20 minutes. Seoul Metro filed complaints against Jeonjangyeon, which held seven subway delay protests from January to November last year, on charges of obstructing train traffic and business interference.

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