Park Gyeong-seok, head of disability rights group, referred over refusal to leave and obstruction of business charges

[Financial News] Park Gyeong-seok, standing representative of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Discrimination against the Disabled, was referred to the Prosecution Office in connection with a rush-hour subway protest he held at Gwanghwamun Station last year.
According to police on the 10th, Seoul Jongno Police Station referred Park without detention to the Seoul Central District Prosecution Office on the 30th of last month on suspicion of jointly refusing to leave and obstructing business.
Park is suspected of refusing railway employees’ requests to leave while staging a protest demanding guaranteed mobility rights for people with disabilities at Gwanghwamun Station at around 8 a.m. on November 18 last year, then continuing the protest for about an hour and disrupting station operations.
The investigation began after a complaint was filed by the civic group Jayudaehan Hogukdan. The group alleged that Park’s continued subway protest during rush hour, without complying with railway employees’ demands that he leave, was illegal and filed a complaint.
Separately, Park was also investigated on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act after making remarks during a protest for the mobility rights of people with disabilities to the effect that people should support a Seoul Metropolitan Council candidate running in local elections. He was referred to the Prosecution Office on September 23.


[email protected] Seo Ji-yun Reporter