Jeonjangyeon Resumes Subway Protests from New Year... Boarding Blockade at Samgakji Station

The head of Samgakji Station is blocking Park Kyung-seok, the representative of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination, from boarding the subway.
Photo by Choi Tae-won skking@

The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) held a subway publicity campaign on the first workday of the new year. However, no subway delays occurred due to Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's firm response policy.

On the 2nd, Jeonjangyeon began their subway publicity campaign around 8 a.m. at the Samgakji Station platform. They had suspended protests following Mayor Oh's truce proposal on the 20th of last month, but resumed the campaign on this day, claiming that only 0.8% of their demands were reflected in the budget passed last year.

Jeonjangyeon stated, "We came back to the subway station to urge for a disability rights budget," adding, "For 21 years, persons with disabilities have been waiting for the right to work, move, and receive education in their communities."

However, despite being Jeonjangyeon's first protest of the new year, the process was not smooth. The Seoul Metro Corporation's sanctions hindered both speeches and subway boarding. On the 19th of last month, the court issued a compulsory mediation order prohibiting publicity campaigns that delay train operations by more than five minutes, which Jeonjangyeon accepted. Nevertheless, Mayor Oh indicated a tough stance, saying, "Even a one-minute delay is a big problem, so allowing a five-minute delay is absurd."

On the morning of the 2nd, police officers and Seoul Metro employees at the Sangam Station Line 4 platform are blocking members of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination from boarding the subway.
Photo by Choi Taewon skking@

On this day, Jeonjangyeon's subway boarding was completely blocked. At the Samgakji Station Line 4 platform (toward Sookmyung Women's University), Seoul Metro employees and police officers were lined up long before the protest began, preparing to prevent Jeonjangyeon's entry. As access continued to be blocked, Representative Park protested, saying, "According to the court's mediation, boarding within five minutes should be allowed. Why are you blocking us?" However, the Samgakji Station manager drew a line, stating, "We have already announced this through the public address system. Boarding will not be permitted." During the speech, every 15 to 30 seconds, an announcement from the Samgakji Station manager of Seoul Metro was broadcast: "Jeonjangyeon, please stop the protest and leave the station. If you refuse to leave, the corporation will be forced to deny train boarding."

Although Jeonjangyeon could not board the subway, the platform became congested with disability activists, police, and Seoul Metro employees, causing inconvenience to citizens. One citizen who missed the subway due to the crowd expressed anger, saying, "What are you doing? Get them all out now." An elderly passerby shouted, "This is not the first time. What are you doing? What will happen if this keeps happening every time I come?"

Jeonjangyeon plans to continue various actions in the future. Representative Park stated, "We will now suspend the 'boarding the subway on the way to work' campaign and proceed with a morning publicity campaign that boards within five minutes," adding, "We will also engage in various activities such as subway culture exhibitions and photo exhibitions to share with citizens."

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