"Can't Stand By Anymore"... Disability Groups Oppose Jeonjangyeon’s 'Subway Protest'

Jeonjangyeon, Dispute with Other Disability Groups
Subway Protest to Proceed as Scheduled

On the 15th, the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) held a subway publicity campaign at Samgakji Station in Seoul, urging the inclusion of the disability rights budget. Park Kyung-seok, the executive representative of Jeonjangyeon, stated, "If the budget is reflected, we will change the method of protest." / Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) carried out a subway delay protest during the morning commute as planned, during which they had a verbal dispute with another disability organization opposing the protest.

On the 15th, Jeonjangyeon held the "2023 Disability Rights Budget Inclusion Morning Commute Subway Campaign" on Line 4 subway bound for Jinjeop at Samgakji Station in Seoul. From 8:50 a.m. to 9:10 a.m., they conducted a subway delay protest for about 20 minutes. During this process, a physical altercation occurred between police and disability activists, but there was no significant train delay incident.

Jeonjangyeon stated, "Today is the day when it will be decided whether the disability rights budget we demanded will be passed in the National Assembly," adding, "We are asking for welfare policy budgets that allow persons with disabilities to receive education together, move around, and live together rather than being confined at home."

However, only four disability activists participated in the subway delay protest that day. The Solidarity for the Normalization of Subway Operation for Persons with Disabilities (Jang-aein Yeondae) had been waiting since around 7:20 a.m. in front of the elevator at Samgakji Station on Line 4 to block Jeonjangyeon members from entering the platform. During this process, verbal disputes occurred between the two sides, but no physical clashes took place.

Jang-aein Yeondae stated, "Subway operation disruption protests only increase hatred toward all persons with disabilities," adding, "We could no longer stand by, so we came out. We will continue to block Jeonjangyeon protests."

Park Kyung-seok, the executive representative of Jeonjangyeon, said, "Is it what the President and the Mayor of Seoul wanted, to make persons with disabilities fight among themselves?" He added, "If the disability rights budget is reflected as planned in the National Assembly, we will change our protest methods." Meanwhile, Jeonjangyeon officials plan to meet with Seoul city officials to protest the no-stop pass measure decided by Seoul city the day before.

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