Disabled activists resume subway-riding protest after a year
Park Kyoung-seok, leader of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, lies at the entrance of a subway train after clashing with Seoul Metro officials during a subway-riding protest at Hyehwa Station in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
A disability rights advocacy group on Monday staged a surprise "subway-riding" protest at one of Seoul's busiest subway stations for the first time in more than one year.
The protest by members of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) began at Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4 at 8 a.m., disrupting train operations during the morning rush hours. During the protest, wheelchair-bound activists repeatedly board and disembark trains, or deliberately board trains slowly.
Seoul Metro employees attempted to block the protesters but the platform quickly became chaotic amid scuffles among both sides and police officers. The SADD's protest was the first in about a year since April 8 last year. The protesters have long demanded an increased budget for disabled people and their mobility rights.