Park Kyung-seok, Former Jeonjangyeon Representative, Refuses Police Appearance: "Disability Accessibility Facilities Come First"

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Park Kyung-seok, co-executive representative of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), who is leading the delayed subway protests in the Seoul metropolitan area, has refused the police summons and decided not to cooperate with the investigation. Park emphasized that equipping police stations in Seoul with facilities for persons with disabilities should take priority over investigations.

Park Kyung-seok, Co-Executive Director of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination, is making a statement regarding his police appearance on the platform of Hyehwa Station, Line 4 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 20th, Jeonjangyeon held a "Publicity Campaign and Press Conference to Secure Budget for Disability Rights" at Hyehwa Station in the Seoul subway around 8 a.m. Park stated in his position announcement, "The installation plan for facilities such as elevators for persons with disabilities by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the budget reflection by the Ministry of Economy and Finance should come first." He added, "If Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, conducts a full survey and establishes an implementation plan for convenience facilities including elevators at all affiliated police stations, and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Choo Kyung-ho promises budget reflection at the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting, I will appear in March."

He pointed out that the state is the one violating the law. Park explained, "Although police stations are public institutions, they have not installed proper convenience facilities that should be provided to persons with disabilities." He continued, "It has been 25 years since the Act on the Promotion of Convenience for Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly, Pregnant Women, etc. was enacted in 1997, but the state and government have continuously delayed installing convenience facilities that persons with disabilities rightfully deserve, using irresponsible excuses." As of July last year, among police stations in Seoul, ten do not have elevators: Guro Police Station, Seodaemun Police Station, Seocho Police Station, Seongdong Police Station, Yangcheon Police Station, Yongsan Police Station, Eunpyeong Police Station, Jungbu Police Station, Jongno Police Station, and Hyehwa Police Station.

Furthermore, Park added, "We are not demanding that elevators be installed in police stations within a year immediately. We understand that some buildings require complete demolition to install elevators, which takes a long time." He added, "We are asking for a demonstration of willingness to install convenience facilities for persons with disabilities by establishing an implementation plan and reflecting the budget."

On the 16th, Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul notified Park, who is suspected of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, to appear on the 17th and to confirm his attendance by that day. Park and members of Jeonjangyeon had appeared at Hyehwa Police Station, Yongsan Police Station, and Jongno Police Station last year but refused investigation due to the absence of elevators. Consequently, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency consolidated cases related to Jeonjangyeon at Namdaemun Police Station, which has elevators installed. Currently, the police have booked a total of 27 people, sent 24 to prosecution, and decided not to prosecute 2 individuals.

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