Disability Groups Occupy Yeouidaero in Seoul During Evening Commute Protest

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@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jin-ho] On the afternoon of the 20th, Disabled Persons' Day, disability organizations occupied 8 to 10 lanes of both directions on Yeouidaero in front of Yeouido Park in Seoul, causing severe traffic congestion.

Disability organizations such as the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) marched from the Yeouido Irum Center toward Yeouido Station around 6:30 p.m., during rush hour, and then occupied Yeouidaero.

Accordingly, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station's security division warned that the protest could violate laws against obstruction of general traffic and the Assembly and Demonstration Act, issuing three dispersal orders, but the protesters reportedly did not disperse. During this process, some citizens harshly protested the participants, shouting, "Is it acceptable to hold citizens hostage?" causing a commotion.

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