Mayor Oh's Truce Proposal Paused Jeonjangyeon Protests... Yet Unresolved Issues Remain

Jeonjangeon Accepts Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's Proposal
"Will Monitor Disability Rights Budget"
Civilians Relieved..."Hope It Lasts Long"

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) are holding a guerrilla subway boarding protest at Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5 in Seoul on the morning of the 20th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The National Association for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) has temporarily paused its protests and taken a breather following Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's proposal for a truce. However, concerns remain that citizens may face inconvenience again as the issue of the disability rights budget has not been fully resolved.

Jeonjangyeon announced the day before that it would stop its subway publicity campaign, which had been delaying Seoul subway commutes since the 21st. Jeonjangyeon stated, "What we sought was responsible attitudes and communication from the national and local governments," adding, "We have accepted Mayor Oh's proposal as responsible communication. We will halt the subway publicity campaign until the budget is reflected in the National Assembly." The previously scheduled gathering and protest at Oido Station on Line 4 in the metropolitan area were also canceled.

Mayor Oh urged Jeonjangyeon to stop the protests the day before while also hinting at the possibility of a strong response. Through social media (SNS), he said, "The delay in the passage of the disability rights budget in the National Assembly is not because of animosity toward Jeonjangyeon, but due to various political incidents causing confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties," adding, "The protest method that shifts the responsibility for the budget delay onto citizens and creates innocent victims must be reconsidered. If Jeonjangyeon continues its illegal subway boarding protests, it will be difficult for me as the Mayor of Seoul to tolerate it any longer."

Since December last year, Jeonjangyeon has been conducting subway delay protests demanding the inclusion of the disability rights budget. In particular, starting from the 19th, they held guerrilla subway protests to condemn Seoul City's recent decision to pass through Samgakji Station without stopping. The day before, Jeonjangyeon suddenly gathered at Gwanghwamun Station, causing an approximately 11-minute delay of the Line 5 subway bound for Macheon.

Citizens welcomed the suspension of the protests. Han (28), an office worker, said, "I was about an hour late to work on the 19th because of the guerrilla protest on Line 1," adding, "I hope I won't be late for a while. I hope Jeonjangyeon's decision lasts a long time."

However, the issue has not been completely resolved. If the disability rights budget is not finally included in next year's budget, Jeonjangyeon is expected to resume subway delay protests on January 2 next year. The approximately 600 billion won disability rights budget requested by Jeonjangyeon has passed preliminary reviews by each standing committee but currently remains in the subcommittee of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, where ruling and opposition lawmakers are discussing the budget privately.

Jeonjangyeon stated, "We earnestly hope that the rights of persons with disabilities to move, receive education, and work will be guaranteed through the budget," emphasizing, "This is a voice as vital as life for persons with severe disabilities."

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