Lawmakers vow legislative efforts to guarantee basic rights of disabled people

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, September 26, 2023 | 08:08

Politics

Lawmakers vow legislative efforts to guarantee basic rights of disabled people

Posted : 2022-04-02 09:00

Updated : 2022-04-02 09:06

A man has his head shaved, Thursday, as part of a protest held by members of civic groups advocating for disability rights, at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Metro Line 3. Newsis

By Jung Da-min

A total of 72 lawmakers have vowed to make bipartisan efforts to guarantee universal rights for the disabled.

The lawmakers, including Rep. Kim Yea-ji of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Rep. Choi Hye-young of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Rep. Jang Hye-yeong of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party, pledged to make legislative efforts to guarantee basic rights for the disabled, during a press conference held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday.

"We are here together today, because the responsibility to protect the basic rights of people with disabilities, including mobility rights, is not something that should be sought only by those belonging to a specific political party or standing committee, or by those with disabilities themselves or their family members, but the responsibility of all members of the National Assembly," Rep. Jang, whose sister is disabled, said during the conference.

Some of the participating lawmakers themselves live with disabilities, such as PPP Rep. Kim who attends Assembly sessions with a guide dog due to her visual impairment, and DPK Rep. Jang who is a quadriplegic.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers said, "All members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea have a basic responsibility to guarantee people with disabilities the right to move in daily life, the right to education, the right to work and the right to live in the local community as stipulated in the Constitution."

The lawmakers said that the National Assembly has failed to fulfill its duty of guaranteeing such basic rights, which is why protests by civic groups to secure a budget for disability rights are still ongoing since starting over four decades ago.

Rep. Kim Yea-ji of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) kneels in apology next to her guide dog, over PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok's criticisms of daily subway protests held by a disability advocacy group, during the group's protest at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Metro Line 3, Monday. Captured from Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination's Facebook page

Friday's press conference by the lawmakers of different parties came after controversies grew over PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok's public criticism against daily subway protests held by a disability advocacy group which started late last year. Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination had suspended its protests in late February, after Rep. Sim Sang-jung, then-presidential candidate of the Justice Party, apologized to the group, saying that politicians are to blame for neglecting the mobility rights of the disabled.

But the group resumed the protests after the March 9 presidential election. PPP Chairman Lee ramped up criticism of the group, accusing the group in many Facebook posts of "holding hostage the everyday lives of good people."

Many politicians of different parties stood together to condemn Lee for provoking hatred of the social minority, rather than trying to adjust social conflicts as the leader of the main opposition party.

The 72 lawmakers criticized Lee indirectly in the joint statement by saying, "Above all, the National Assembly failed to make a timely reconciliation for the social conflicts that arose when people with disabilities demanded their natural rights based on freedom of assembly and demonstration as guaranteed by the Constitution. Because of this, misunderstandings, conflicts and even hatred have arisen, while the demands of the disabled presented in the recent subway protests have been ignored. For all these circumstances, we feel a heavy responsibility as members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea."

damin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr