What did Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination demand during the Seoul subway protest at Yongsan and Hyehwa stations?

The group demanded increased government spending for people with disabilities and stronger mobility rights in next year’s budget. The activists used subway-riding tactics, repeatedly boarding and disembarking trains or taking a long time to board.

How long was train service disrupted at Yongsan Station during the disability protest?

KORAIL had northbound trains bound for downtown Seoul pass through Yongsan Station without stopping for about two hours. The bypass lasted from 8:10 a.m. to 10:06 a.m. to reduce disruption caused by the protest.

Will the disability activists continue subway protests after the Yongsan Station disruption?

The group said it would stage similar protests at Hyehwa Station every Monday through Aug. 24. Operations at Hyehwa Station had already returned to normal after the activists left by train around 9 a.m.

Disabled activists' protest temporarily disrupts Yongsan Station

Listen

Summary

A disability rights advocacy group staged surprise subway-riding protests at Yongsan Station and Hyehwa Station in Seoul on Monday, temporarily disrupting service at Yongsan Station. Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination called for increased government spending for people with disabilities and mobility rights in next year’s budget. KORAIL made northbound trains pass Yongsan without stopping for about two hours. The group said it would hold similar protests at Hyehwa Station every Monday through Aug. 24.

Key Facts

The protest began at 8 a.m. at Yongsan Station on Subway Line 1 and Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4.
KORAIL kept northbound trains bound for downtown Seoul from stopping at Yongsan Station from 8:10 a.m. to 10:06 a.m.
Operations at Hyehwa Station returned to normal after all activists left the station by train at around 9 a.m.
The activists had staged a protest at Noryangjin Station on Subway Line 1 in southern Seoul on Aug. 3.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 10, 2026 10:53 am KST

Activists from the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination stage a 'subway-riding' protest at Yongsan Station in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap — Activists from the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination stage a "subway-riding" protest at Yongsan Station in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

A disability rights advocacy group staged a surprise "subway-riding" protest at two subway stations in Seoul on Monday, temporarily disrupting operations at one of the stations.

The protest by members of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination began at Yongsan Station on Subway Line 1 and Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4 at 8 a.m., calling for increased government spending for people with disabilities and their mobility rights in next year's budget.

During the protest, wheelchair-bound activists repeatedly boarded and disembarked from trains or deliberately took a long time to board.

Train operator KORAIL responded to the protest by having northbound trains bound for downtown Seoul pass through Yongsan Station without stopping for about two hours from 8:10 a.m. to 10:06 a.m., inconveniencing commuters.

Operations at Hyehwa Station returned to normal after all activists left the station by train at around 9 a.m.

The activists threatened to stage similar protests at Hyehwa Station every Monday through Aug. 24. They staged a protest at Noryangjin Station on Subway Line 1 in southern Seoul on Aug. 3.

Explore More