Political row over disabled rights and public transport in Seoul

Disabled rights activists have been protesting recently at Seoul subway stations to make them more wheelchair accessible. Controversy follows social media posts by the leader of the country’s ruling conservative party who blames advocates of “playing the minority” card to hold others hostage. Meanwhile, the presidential transition committee has promised action.

Seoul (AsiaNews) – Lee Jun-seok, the 36-year-old leader of the conservative-leaning People Power Party (PPP), has been entangled in controversy since Friday over a series of Facebook posts attacking disability rights advocates.

Lee’s statements have caused outrage across the country. A lawyer told the Korea Times newspaper, that such attacks clearly constitute hate speech, a particularly awkward situation for a party leader.

Since the end of 2021, the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) group has been involved in a protest campaign to raise public awareness about the obstacles disabled people face every day in urban settings.

In particular, the group has held disruptive actions in Seoul’s subway, preventing the closing of train doors with their own wheelchairs, thus causing delays.

In his social media posts, Lee says that such protests cannot be justified as legitimate. “I demand SADD to stop its current method of protest which is holding many random citizens as hostages," Lee said on his Facebook page on Sunday.

“Such irrationality calls for an active intervention,” he added, urging the police and Seoul Metro to take steps to stop the demonstrations.

Reacting to Lee’s statement, some MPs showed up on Monday at the group's rallies to express their solidarity.

“The kind of democracy that Korea needs is one that clearly demonstrates such opinions belong to just one man – that is Lee Jun-seok – and they cannot be the official stance of a political party,” said a lawmaker from the small left-wing Justice Party.

Another MP who joined the protest was Kim Ye-ji, a blind lawmaker from Lee’s own PPP, who apologised on behalf of her party.

“As a politician I feel responsible for the [. . .] lack of empathy and inappropriate language, and I apologize on behalf of my colleagues,” said Kim, who thanked the activities for their courage in fighting against discrimination.

SADD started the fight in 2001. Their goal is that disabled people be able to move independently on public transport just like any other South Korean citizen.

Although 94 per cent of all Seoul subway train stations are equipped with elevators to allow access to platforms, the promise 20 years ago that all would be wheelchair accessible has not yet been fulfilled.

SADD’s demands go further to make all public transport (buses and taxis) to accessible to people with mobility issues.

Above all, the group wants the government to fund disability support projects, most of which now left in the hands of provincial and municipal authorities.

"Without budget there is no policy; it’s as simple as that,” said SADD leader Park Kyung-seok.

Yesterday afternoon, the group reached an agreement with the presidential transition committee, which promised to meet their demands in exchange for a suspension of the protests. However, much remains to be clarified.

After his criticism against advocacy groups over the week-end, Lee Jun-seok renewed his attacks on Monday accusing activist groups of taking advantage of their condition. “Playing the minority or the disadvantaged card is not going to work anymore,” he said.

• south korea
• disabled rights
• advocacy
• criticism
• people power party
• lee jun-seok
• seoul underground