Jeonjangeon Refuses Investigation After Appearing at Yongsan Police Station... "Illegal If No Elevator"

Jeonjangeon "State Agencies Fail to Comply with Obligations under the Act on Convenience for the Disabled"
Police Announce Strong Response to Jeonjangeon... Clash Inevitable
Jeonjangeon Scheduled to Appear at Jongno Police Station on the 25th

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) appeared again at the police station but refused to be investigated, citing the lack of facilities for people with disabilities. The police announced their plan to strictly investigate Jeonjangyeon in the future.

At around 10 a.m. on the 19th, Park Kyung-seok, co-representative of Jeonjangyeon, and Lee Hyung-sook, chairperson of the Seoul Disabled Independent Living Center Council, who are accused of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and obstructing transportation by train and ship, appeared at the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul for police questioning. However, they refused to be investigated, citing the absence of an elevator inside the Yongsan Police Station. They argued that the police station did not comply with Article 6 of the Act on the Promotion of Convenience for the Disabled, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women (Disability Convenience Act), which mandates that the state and local governments provide facilities that are convenient and safe for people with disabilities. Jeonjangyeon also clashed with the police while posting printed materials at the entrance of Yongsan Police Station.

Co-representative Park said, "The Disability Convenience Act imposes much stronger obligations on the state in managing public institutions, and the state must provide appropriate convenience facilities for people with disabilities." He added, "It has been 24 years since the law was enacted, yet the police station that does not guarantee access for people with disabilities has been neglected." Furthermore, he stated, "Jeonjangyeon voluntarily appears for police investigations and all trials without ever fleeing. Who investigates and punishes the state that fails to take responsibility and grants itself immunity?" Jeonjangyeon announced that they would appear again for investigation once an elevator is installed at Yongsan Police Station.

Disability activists affiliated with Jeonjangyeon had already appeared at Hyehwa Police Station in Seoul on the 14th but refused to be investigated for the same reason. At that time, Hyehwa Police Station had prepared a statement recording room on the first floor, but Jeonjangyeon insisted on being investigated on the third floor of the building, so the investigation did not proceed.

The police maintain that there is no problem with the police station facilities. Since the Disability Convenience Act was enacted in 1998, police stations constructed before then are not subject to the law. Yongsan Police Station was built in 1979. A police official stated, "We will respond to Jeonjangyeon's demands according to the principles."

Jeonjangyeon plans to continue raising the issue of elevator installation in police stations. According to Jeonjangyeon, among the six police stations where they must appear for investigation (Namdaemun Police Station, Suseo Police Station, Yeongdeungpo Police Station, Yongsan Police Station, Jongno Police Station, Hyehwa Police Station), Yongsan, Jongno, and Hyehwa Police Stations do not have elevators installed. However, the pressure from the police is burdensome. The day before, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they are currently investigating 26 disability activists affiliated with Jeonjangyeon and will conduct strict investigations going forward.

Jeonjangyeon has been holding a shaved-head protest for 78 days, demanding the inclusion of a disability rights budget in the 2023 budget. They plan to appear for investigation at Jongno Police Station on the 25th.

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