Lee Jun-seok: "Jeonjangyeon Must Apologize for Framing Disability Hate"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 31st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] On the 5th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, said to the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), which has been conducting subway protests to guarantee educational and mobility rights, "There is nothing to apologize for," adding, "If Jeonjangyeon apologizes for trying to frame me with disability hatred, I am willing to accept it."

Lee appeared on CBS Kim Hyun-jung's News Show that day and stated, "I asked Jeonjangyeon to introduce any (hate) remarks I made wrongfully, but there has been no response yet."

When asked if he hates disabled people, Lee replied, "Of course not," and said he only criticized the way Jeonjangyeon blocks subway doors during protests. Lee said, "That's all I said, and for example, if I were to use criticism as a purpose, was it Jeonjangyeon or disabled people? It was Jeonjangyeon," citing the Taegeukgi Unit as an example. He added, "Just because you don't like the way the Taegeukgi Unit protests doesn't mean you hate conservatives," and said, "Jeonjangyeon twisted it by saying, 'Why do you hate disabled people instead of us?' because they saw elements of criticism directed at themselves."

Lee said, "During the increase in subway elevator installation rates from 0 to 94, the result was not achieved by paralyzing the Seoul subway for 30 to 40 minutes by stopping wheelchairs at subway doors," adding, "Budgets were gradually allocated through the process of persuading politicians, and that's how installations were made. I pointed out that the recent change in protest methods is a very bad protest method because it causes inconvenience to the majority."

He continued, "Ultimately, it is very important who and what the protest is directed at, and if pointing this out is called disability hatred, then I have nothing to say."

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