11 Members of Jeonjangyeon Involved in 'Subway Delay Protest' Referred Without Detention

Park Kyung-seok, Former Jeonjangyeon Representative, Not Included
Refused Police Investigation Since Last July... Merged at Namdaemun Station

Park Kyung-seok, co-executive director of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), and activists resumed a subway rally at Hyehwa Station in Seoul on the morning of June 13, urging for the budget for disability rights and the guarantee of mobility rights.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Eleven members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), who staged delayed protests on the subway during the morning commute and occupied roads demanding the inclusion of a disability rights budget in next year’s budget, have been referred to the prosecution. Among them, Park Kyung-seok, the representative of Jeonjangyeon, was not included.

On the 1st, Seoul Namdaemun Police Station announced that it had sent 11 Jeonjangyeon members to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office without detention on charges including obstruction of business, interference with train traffic, and violation of the Road Traffic Act. However, the police explained that the timing and acts of the suspects differed, so the applicable charges varied accordingly.

They are accused of delaying subway operations during the morning commute and occupying roads to demand securing the disability rights budget and guaranteeing mobility rights. Since December last year, Jeonjangyeon has been conducting the “Taking the Subway on the Morning Commute” protests. Additionally, in May, they occupied roads near the Yongsan Presidential Office during a march.

Seoul Metro filed a complaint accusing Park and other Jeonjangyeon members of obstructing subway operations six times from January to November last year, charging them with obstruction of business and other offenses. The conservative civic group Liberty Patriotic Corps also filed a complaint against Lee Hyung-sook, chairperson of the Seoul Disabled Independent Living Center Council, and other Jeonjangyeon members for obstruction of business and violation of the Railroad Safety Act.

However, Park and Chairperson Lee were not sent to the prosecution this time because they continue to refuse police investigations. A police official stated, “They have not appeared yet, delaying the investigation,” and added, “We are continuously sending summons.” Park and other Jeonjangyeon members appeared at Seoul Hyehwa Police Station and Yongsan Police Station in July but refused to be investigated, citing discrimination due to the absence of elevators in the buildings. Subsequently, the police merged the Jeonjangyeon-related cases and investigated them at Seoul Namdaemun Police Station, where elevators are installed.

Jeonjangyeon members were also sent to the prosecution without detention in April on charges including obstruction of business, violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and the Assembly and Demonstration Act. They were accused of obstructing bus operations in Seoul while urging the introduction of 100% low-floor buses. Additionally, in January last year, they set up tents and held an unreported rally at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

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