Why Did Jeonjangyeon Activists Visit Kim Han-gil to Urge 'Budget Securing'?

Waiting at the Venue for Meeting Request with Chairman Kim Han-gil

The National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) visited the venue of a forum attended by Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, on the 24th to urge securing the budget for transportation related to persons with disabilities and requested a meeting. Chairman Kim left the venue without delivering a congratulatory speech due to the unexpected situation.

Chairman Kim attended a joint forum with the Social Science Association for National Integration held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, in the morning, where he clashed with a Jeonjangyeon activist who was waiting for him. The activist demanded, "Please allocate a budget of 335 billion KRW for special transportation next year under your authority as chairman."

Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, shows a perplexed expression while meeting with an activist from the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon) during a joint discussion with the Social Science Association for National Integration held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

When Chairman Kim said, "You should not disrupt the event. You should not do this at someone else's event," the activist repeatedly requested on the spot, asking the chairman to confirm a date for a meeting.

A National Integration Committee official nearby said, "We will check the schedule and arrange it," but the activist replied, "When will later be? It is always like this," and the dispute continued. Eventually, the committee official said, "Let's discuss the schedule," and Chairman Kim hurriedly left the venue.

After the People Power Party suffered a defeat in the by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul, the ruling party has seen the rise of the 'Kim Han-gil role theory' ahead of next year's general election. Chairman Kim has been close to President Yoon Seok-yeol since the latter entered politics and is also known as President Yoon's 'state affairs mentor.' There were also speculations that Chairman Kim wields significant influence within the party due to rumors of his friendship with In Yo-han, recently appointed chairman of the People Power Party's Innovation Committee.

Regarding this, Chairman Kim dismissed the rumors during a meeting with reporters on the 24th, saying, "Not only In Yo-han but no one else, nor any position within the party, have I ever interfered with personnel matters. I have never intervened and will not do so in the future."

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