SAPE Dents Complete Halt to Subway Wheelchair Protests Following Agreement with Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party

The disabled activist group that has been staging subway-boarding protests during the morning commute using wheelchairs at locations including Seoul Station has decided to completely halt the demonstrations.

The Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SAPE), the Democratic Party faction of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, and the Democratic Party's Seoul Metropolitan Chapter held a press conference for a "social grand compromise declaration to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities" at the Seoul Metropolitan Council building and announced this decision.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council Democratic Party promised to pass the party's No. 1 and No. 2 ordinance bills, which include provisions for guaranteeing the mobility and labor rights of people with disabilities, at the upcoming plenary session.

SAPE stated that it welcomed the decision by the Metropolitan Council Democratic Party and would completely halt its morning commute subway-boarding protests.

Through a resolution, the participants in the conference stated, "We resolve to show solidarity to the end to create an equal Seoul where the presence or absence of a disability is not a barrier, and where people enjoy dignity beyond mere survival."

Previously, SAPE had temporarily suspended its morning commute subway protests following a meeting with Minister of Planning and Budget Park Hong-keun on the 19th.

At the time, SAPE announced the cancellation of the Seoul Station "subway-boarding propaganda campaign" that had been scheduled daily, while giving advance notice that it would proceed with the subway-boarding protest at Seoul Station at 8 a.m. on this day as originally planned before announcing its official stance on whether to continue the demonstrations.

According to SAPE, the group has staged morning commute subway protests 73 times since December 3, 2021, demanding the guarantee of rights for people with disabilities.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.