Kim Yeji and Jang Hyeyoung, Female Lawmakers Leading the Charge for 'Disability Rights Protection'

Jang Hye-young Joins Parents of People with Developmental Disabilities in Head-Shaving Ceremony
Kim Ye-ji Visits Jeonjangyeon to Apologize on Knees
"A Country Where Basic Rights Are Not Even Called For"
"Politicians Must Take Responsibility for Citizens' Inconvenience"

On the afternoon of the 19th, one day before Disability Day, Jang Hye-young, a Justice Party lawmaker, participated in a group head-shaving event at a 24-hour support system establishment intensive two-day resolution rally for people with developmental disabilities, hosted by the National Parents' Association for the Disabled near the Blue House. Photo by Yonhap News.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As protests by disability organizations demanding the guarantee of basic rights for people with disabilities continue, Kim Yeji of the People Power Party and Jang Hyeyoung of the Justice Party have stepped forward to raise their voices. When hate attacks were directed at the disability groups' morning commute protests for causing subway delays, the two lawmakers appeared at the protest site and bowed their heads, saying, "We apologize for causing inconvenience due to issues that the political sphere has failed to resolve." The two lawmakers emphasize that resolving the inconveniences and conflicts faced by socially vulnerable groups is the 'role of politics' and urge the government and the National Assembly to take responsible stances.

On the 19th, Representative Jang participated in a head-shaving ceremony held by the National Parents' Solidarity for the Disabled, calling for the establishment of a 24-hour support system for people with developmental disabilities. Having a younger sibling with developmental disabilities, Representative Jang said before shaving her head, "The first reason I shave my head with you all is to apologize. It has been two years since I believed that creating a support system where people with developmental disabilities can live together 24 hours a day was the most important mission upon entering the National Assembly, but I am very sorry that politics has not been properly conducted to the extent that you have to come out here again."

Representative Jang also stated that shaving her head was a form of protest, criticizing, "Even at this moment, a special session is being held in the National Assembly, and the Health and Welfare Committee is reviewing very important bills such as the Disability Rights Guarantee Act and the Deinstitutionalization Support Act, but many fellow lawmakers are not paying sufficient attention."

The organization has long argued that the responsibility for the lack of support and policies for people with developmental disabilities has been shifted onto the individuals and their families, and has called for the establishment of a 24-hour support system guaranteeing income, labor, housing, education, and health rights. The group also held a head-shaving ceremony at the same location on April 19, 2018.

Representative Jang's participation in the head-shaving ceremony now, four years later, carries the meaning of reflection and responsibility for the lack of policy improvement for people with developmental disabilities. On that day, Representative Jang expressed her determination, saying, "I will do everything I can in the National Assembly together with you to ensure that people with developmental disabilities can live freely and equally in the local community."

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) and Kim Ye-ji, a member of the People Power Party, boarded the subway at Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3 in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 28th of last month for the subway protest "Taking the Subway on the Way to Work," which was held to demand the guarantee of mobility rights for persons with disabilities and the inclusion of disability rights in the budget. / Photo by Yonhap News

Kim, who is visually impaired, visited the site of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) morning commute protest on the 28th of last month, which called for the guarantee of rights and budget for the mobility of people with disabilities, and offered a 'kneeling apology.' This was an apology for the remarks made by Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the same party, who had described Jeonjangyeon's protest method as 'hostage-taking.'

On that day, Kim said, "As a politician, I deeply feel responsible. I apologize on behalf of the political sphere for not empathizing and for using inappropriate words. I am sorry for causing inconvenience to citizens due to issues that politics has failed to resolve," bowing her head.

Since December last year, Jeonjangyeon has been appealing for the allocation of budgets related to mobility rights, stating that even the basic right to mobility is not guaranteed through their morning commute protests. Some have expressed hate attacks against Jeonjangyeon's protest method, arguing that subway delays cause inconvenience to other citizens, and Jeonjangyeon has even held discussions with Leader Lee on this topic.

Representatives Jang and Kim point out that the controversy over the protest methods is also an issue that the political sphere must reflect on. Representative Jang, who attended the Jeonjangyeon protest with Kim that day, said, "Citizens taking action themselves to point out and urge correction of political neglect of responsibility is a freedom and right of assembly and protest guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea," adding, "If politics had properly created policies and supported them with budgets for the mobility rights, education rights, and the right to live in the community for people with disabilities earlier, such a situation as today would not have arisen."

Kim also emphasized that the country should be one where people do not have to shout for their rightful rights. In an interview with TBS Radio, Kim said, "(Mobility rights) are basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution. So, in a way, the country should be one where there is no need to shout for this," emphasizing, "Human dignity is inherent. It is not a matter to be debated."

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