The nationwide subway protests by the Disability Rights Solidarity (전장연), which have disrupted commuters, are at a critical juncture after more than four years. Following meetings with government ministers and a declaration of a major compromise with the Seoul City Council, attention is focused on whether the non-stop passage through Lines 1 and 4 and the resulting delays will come to an end.
On the 24th, the Disability Rights Solidarity announced that it will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. at the Seoul City Council's member hall with the Democratic Party of Korea to declare a 'social compromise for the guarantee of disability rights.' During this event, the group will share updates on the progress of proposed ordinances and officially announce its future stance on the ongoing 'commuter subway protests.'
Earlier this month, the group declared it would institutionalize its subway boarding protests every Monday morning. During the protest on August 3, non-stop passage measures were implemented at Hyehwa Station on Line 4 and Noryangjin Station on Line 1, causing severe commuter chaos with delays of up to 1 hour and 20 minutes.
However, the situation shifted dramatically after a private meeting on August 19 between Park Hong-geun, the Minister of Planning and Budget, and the Disability Rights Solidarity. Minister Park suggested reviewing the disability rights budget and requested a halt to the protests, leading the group to cancel its previously scheduled 'commuter boarding campaigns' that were set to continue until the budget deadline.
As a result, the Disability Rights Solidarity is expected to conclude its '73rd commuter subway protest' at Seoul Station on the morning of the 24th, with a high likelihood of temporarily suspending its long-term sit-in depending on the outcomes of negotiations with the government and local authorities.
Railway officials have expressed significant concern over the potential for continued congestion and non-stop measures at Hyehwa Station, Noryangjin Station, and major transfer hubs such as Seoul Station (Lines 1 and 4), City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2), Dongdaemun Station (Lines 1 and 4), and Sadang Station (Lines 2 and 4) due to the protests. The declaration of a major compromise has raised hopes that commuter traffic disruptions may be alleviated.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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