Jeonjangyeon Subway Protests Two Days in a Row... "Guarantee the Rights We've Called for 22 Years"

The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) held subway protests for two consecutive days to mark Disability Day. Disability activists and civic groups demanded the guarantee of disability rights that they have been advocating for 22 years.

Park Kyung-seok, the representative of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), is throwing a chrysanthemum flower after being prevented from boarding the subway during a boarding protest at Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5 on the morning of the 21st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 21st, the April 20 Joint Struggle Group for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination, composed of over 140 organizations including Jeonjangyeon, held subway protests around 8 a.m. at Gwanghwamun Station and Hoehyeon Station in Seoul. The protest locations were announced only one hour before the events began.

About 100 disability activists attempted to board the subway at Gwanghwamun Station from 8:40 a.m. for approximately 40 minutes but were blocked by the police and Seoul Metro officials. The station manager at Gwanghwamun stated, "Please stop the protest immediately and leave the station premises," adding, "If you refuse to leave, Seoul Metro may refuse boarding." Although the activists were prevented from boarding, no subway delays occurred. Instead, the activists threw white chrysanthemums inside the train while chanting slogans such as "Guarantee the right to mobility for persons with disabilities" and "Guarantee basic rights." At Hoehyeon Station, about 200 disability activists were also unable to board the subway.

Park Kyung-seok, co-executive representative of Jeonjangyeon, said, "On the 23rd of last month, we waited for a meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo at Samgakji Station in Seoul while demanding a disability rights budget," adding, "However, the promises were not kept, and there was no response." He further stated, "I do not know whose freedom President Yoon Suk-yeol is advocating," and added, "(Persons with disabilities) have waited for 22 years and have been calling for rights guarantees throughout last year." Park also announced that subway protests will be held daily from now on.

Jeonjangyeon held a one-night, two-day rally and protest starting the day before, which was Disability Day. On the previous day, subway protests were held at Samgakji Station and Myeongdong Station on Line 4, and Yeouido Station on Line 5 in Seoul, causing some subway delays. From around 7 p.m., a cultural event was held at Seoul Plaza, and overnight protests took place on three lanes until the following morning.

They demanded the guarantee of the disability rights budget, the re-amendment of disability rights legislation, and the complete abolition of the disability grading system and the support obligation criteria. They also requested a meeting with Prime Minister Han.

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