Park Hong-geun, the Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, met with Park Kyung-seok, the representative of the National Coalition for the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon), to request a complete cessation of subway protests.
According to the Ministry of Planning and Budget on August 20, Minister Park announced on his Facebook page that he had discussed issues related to disability mobility rights and public employment with Park Kyung-seok during their meeting the previous afternoon.
Minister Park stated, "I listened carefully to the opinions from the field regarding the policy challenges related to disability mobility rights and public employment," but emphasized, "I clearly request that protests that infringe on the daily lives and rights of non-disabled citizens be completely halted going forward."
He added, "Jeonjangyeon will finalize its position on August 24 after an internal meeting, and I will wait with expectations from the perspective of the public."
Previously, Jeonjangyeon had announced plans to conduct daily subway protests during rush hour until the Ministry of Planning and Budget included a budget for disability rights in the 2027 government budget proposal.
In response, Minister Park urged Jeonjangyeon to refrain from protests that repeatedly cause harm and inconvenience to citizens during their commutes. Following this, Jeonjangyeon temporarily suspended its protests, leading to the meeting between the two parties.
Minister Park reiterated, "I listened carefully to the opinions from the field regarding the policy challenges related to disability mobility rights and public employment," and expressed hope for Jeonjangyeon's upcoming announcement on August 24.
He also called for an understanding of the government's policies and financial conditions. He noted, "From the perspective of those affected, government policies may still feel insufficient, but it is also necessary to understand and respect the government's position in implementing policies within limited resources."
Furthermore, he stated, "Since its inception, the government has established national tasks to enhance the basic rights and quality of life for persons with disabilities and has implemented related policies. In the future, we will continue to keep the door open for dialogue and listening, paying closer attention to the voices of persons with disabilities and those in the field."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.