After Promise of 'Disability Rights Ordinances,' Jeonjangyeon Halts Subway Boarding Protests

A significant shift has occurred in the long-standing protests by the National Federation of Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) in South Korea. The group announced on May 24 that it will suspend its "Ride the Subway to Work" demonstrations, a series of protests that have frequently disrupted public transportation for over four years. This decision comes after the Democratic Party, holding a majority in the Seoul City Council, pledged to pass key ordinances aimed at improving disability rights.

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Jeonjangyeon will now trust the political decision of the Seoul City Council and announce that we will stop the 'Ride the Subway to Work' protests that have continued for over four years. However, stopping this does not mean ending the fight for disability rights. We ask the City Council to respond with ordinances, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon with budgets, and you, the citizens, with interest and solidarity, to the question of why people with disabilities have had to stand on the subway for over four years.

"Jeonjangyeon will now trust the political decision of the Seoul City Council and announce that we will stop the 'Ride the Subway to Work' protests that have continued for over four years," stated Lee Gyu-sik, standing representative of Jeonjangyeon. He emphasized that halting the protests does not signify an end to the fight for disability rights. "We ask the City Council to respond with ordinances, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon with budgets, and you, the citizens, with interest and solidarity, to the question of why people with disabilities have had to stand on the subway for over four years."

The "Ride the Subway to Work" campaign began on December 3, 2021, and had seen 73 instances over the past four years and eight months. The suspension is a direct response to the Democratic Party's commitment to pass two specific ordinances in the upcoming plenary session of the Seoul City Council on May 25. These proposed laws include amendments to the "Seoul Metropolitan City Ordinance on Promoting the Mobility of Transportation Vulnerable Persons" and the "Seoul Metropolitan City Ordinance on Promoting Employment of Persons with Disabilities and Support for Vocational Rehabilitation."

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Jeonjangyeon will stop the 'Ride the Subway to Work' protests. We urge you to immediately stop the politics of stigmatizing and oppressing specific disability groups and creating divisions. We hope to resolve how to guarantee the basic rights of people with disabilities through dialogue.

Park Kyung-seok, standing co-representative of Jeonjangyeon, reiterated the suspension of the subway protests. He urged an end to political tactics that stigmatize and divide the disability community, expressing hope for dialogue to ensure basic rights for people with disabilities. Park also extended his gratitude to the public, recalling instances of support amidst the often confrontational protests. He shared an anecdote of a high school student displaying a "I support you" message, highlighting that many citizens offered quiet support, like offering canned coffee, during the disruptions. Jeonjangyeon affirmed its commitment to continue its rights struggle with the trust and support of the citizens.

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I am grateful to the citizens. One day, when I rode the subway, some citizens suddenly cursed and used violence to pull us off, but amidst the chaos, a high school student held up their phone, and the screen read 'I support you.' Despite the confusing situation, many people gave us looks and offered canned coffee, showing their support. Jeonjangyeon will continue its rights struggle with the trust and support of the citizens.