Jeonjangyeon "Will Conduct Daily Propaganda on Line 4"

Members of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) are attempting to board the subway at Samgakji Station on Line 4 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway on the morning of the 2nd, holding a clock showing 5 minutes. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) announced that it will hold daily publicity campaigns on Seoul Subway Line 4 to demand the securing of a budget for disability rights.

On the 3rd, Jeonjangyeon began a subway delay protest by boarding a southbound train toward Samgakji Station at Seongsin Women's University Station on Line 4 around 8 a.m. They got off at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station around 8:40 a.m. and attempted to board the subway again but were blocked.

Employees of Seoul Metro (Seogyo-gong) and police officers tried to stop Jeonjangyeon's protest, leading to physical confrontations. Whenever disability activists attempted to board the subway, Seoul Metro staff, police, and the activists clashed and shouted at each other. This standoff continued for about six hours until Jeonjangyeon held a closing ceremony for their '1-night 2-day subway action' at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station around 2:30 p.m. On that day, the police deployed about 200 officers, including three riot police units and one company, at the scene.

Park Kyung-seok, Jeonjangyeon's representative, said at the closing ceremony, "Five minutes is the opportunity and space for Jeonjangyeon to inform citizens. Please allow at least that amount of time," adding, "If Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho agrees to meet, we will suspend the publicity campaign." On the 19th of last month, the Seoul Central District Court decided through compulsory mediation that if Jeonjangyeon delays subway operations for more than five minutes, they must pay Seoul Metro 5 million won per incident.

Jeonjangyeon also announced that it will conduct publicity campaigns on Line 4 every day except weekends and holidays. In a press release, Jeonjangyeon explained, "We have painfully realized once again that only the President can resolve the disability rights budget and legislation," and added, "We chose Line 4, which passes near Samgakji Station close to the Presidential Office." Furthermore, they expressed deep apologies to citizens using Line 4 and stated, "We will seriously consider Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's remark that 'a delay of more than one minute would be a big problem.'"

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