Disability rights group ends subway protests after 4 years, citing council's ordinance pledge

The National Federation of Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) has announced the cessation of its highly publicized 'commute-hour subway boarding' protests, a campaign that has spanned four years and eight months. This significant decision comes after securing a commitment from the Democratic Party, the majority party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council, to enact legislation that guarantees the rights of individuals with disabilities.

The protests, which began on December 3, 2021, involved activists boarding subway trains during peak hours to highlight the need for improved accessibility and rights for people with disabilities. Over 73 instances of these protests occurred, often causing considerable delays and disruptions for commuters. While the demonstrations successfully brought national attention to the cause, they also resulted in numerous lawsuits and claims for damages due to the inconvenience caused.

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Jeonjangyeon will stop 'riding the subway during commute hours.' However, this does not mean the end of the struggle for disability rights. We ask the City Council to respond with ordinances, Mayor Oh Se-hoon with budgets, and citizens with interest and solidarity, to the question of why people with disabilities had no choice but to stand on the subway for over four years.

Jeonjangyeon stated that while the subway protests are ending, their fight for disability rights is not over. They are calling on the Seoul Metropolitan Council to pass relevant ordinances, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to allocate necessary budget, and the public to maintain their interest and solidarity. The group emphasized that the need for such protests arose because basic rights for people with disabilities were not being adequately addressed.

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We promise to pass the ordinances as party platform No. 1 and No. 2 in the upcoming plenary session to guarantee the mobility and labor rights of persons with disabilities.

The Democratic Party has pledged to pass two key ordinances in the upcoming plenary session: an amendment to the 'Seoul Metropolitan City Ordinance on Promoting the Mobility of Transportation Vulnerable Persons' and an amendment to the 'Seoul Metropolitan City Ordinance on the Promotion of Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation Support for Persons with Disabilities.' The former aims to mandate the operation of low-floor buses across Seoul, while the latter seeks to reinstate the 'rights-centered public jobs for severely disabled individuals' program, which was set to be abolished in 2024.

Park Kyung-seok, co-representative of Jeonjangyeon, expressed hope for continued dialogue to ensure the basic rights of people with disabilities to live as citizens. He also conveyed gratitude to the citizens who endured the disruptions and offered support, recalling an instance where a high school student held up a phone displaying 'I support you' amidst the chaos. The Ministry of Planning and Budget also welcomed the suspension of protests, stating a commitment to continued listening and dialogue while upholding budgetary principles.

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We will continue our rights struggle with the trust and support of citizens.