Seoul Transportation Corporation, the operator of the Seoul subway, announced a hardline stance Wednesday regarding the resumption of subway boarding protests by the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD), stating, "We will apply a zero-tolerance principle in accordance with the Railroad Safety Act and other relevant laws."
The SADD resumed its subway boarding protest for the first time in six months since January 2. Previously, the group had suspended its protests after accepting a proposal from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Young-bae to hold off on protests until the local elections.
According to the corporation, the protest delayed Line 1 train operations by about eight minutes that day and caused congestion within the station. In response to the announced protest, the corporation pre-deployed a total of 130 personnel to the site, including about 100 subway security guards. It also blocked acts of train operation obstruction, including issuing eviction warning broadcasts in accordance with the Railroad Safety Act.
The corporation said it will respond strongly to illegal acts, including civil and criminal legal measures. It is currently continuing legal action related to illegal protests by disability organizations on charges including traffic obstruction and obstruction of business. A total of nine lawsuits are already underway, including five criminal cases and four civil cases.
The corporation also plans to take strict measures against the illegal tent sit-in that has continued in the Line 1-2 transfer passage at City Hall Station since April 24. To ensure the safety of citizen passage and prevent safety accidents such as fires, it has already issued a voluntary removal notice on June 26. If the removal is not carried out by the 10th of this month, the removal deadline, the corporation plans to initiate legal procedures, including a lawsuit seeking the removal of unauthorized facilities.
Kim Tae-kyun, president of Seoul Transportation Corporation, said, "For illegal acts that obstruct train operations or threaten citizen safety, we will respond strictly in accordance with the law and principles in cooperation with relevant agencies, and we will do our best to minimize inconvenience to citizens."
