Activists from Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) demand an increase in the state budget for disability rights while protesting in a subway train at Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul on Dec. 20. Newsis

By Lee Yeon-woo

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wrote on Facebook on Monday that a national disability advocacy group's plan to resume its protests in subways is "unacceptable," promising a zero-tolerance policy against further actions disrupting public transportation.

"The announcement of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (SADD) that it will resume its protests is unacceptable," he wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

"I consulted with the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency this morning, and he agreed on a swift response to any subway protests if Seoul Metro requests it. The head of Seoul Metro also agreed," he wrote.

"As mayor, I can no longer neglect the damage and inconvenience of citizens," he continued.

Oh said he won't let the protests resume. "On top of bold measures on the spot, we will also consider other necessary civil and punitive measures to stop them," he said.

The Seoul mayor's hardline approach to the subway protests came a day after SADD, which has been conducting daily protests in subway stations since December 2021, warned the protests will resume on Jan. 2.

"The Ministry of Economy and Finance, which has the absolute authority to increase budgets, rejected the budget for disability rights," the organization commented on Sunday. "Now the truce is over."

SADD members said they felt frustrated that the ministry had increased the budget for disability rights for next year by only 0.8 percent of what they had requested, and it had been approved by the National Assembly on Saturday.

Throughout the year of protests during metro riders' morning commute, the group has requested the government to increase the budget for disabled citizens to 1.3 trillion won, in order to support their mobility rights, education and independence.

"With faith, SADD has waited for the budget in the hope that both the ruling and opposition parties would make an agreement. But our faith has turned into frustration," the group said.

Six days ago, the group halted its protests ― in which members block train doors during the morning rush hour ― and accepted Mayor Oh's offer of a "temporary truce." Oh had asked them to wait and see whether their requested budget passes the National Assembly first, and to reconsider their protests.

As the group announced its intention to resume the protests next year, Oh fired back with threats of legal action to stop their protests, Monday.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Central District Court suggested a mediation plan on Dec. 19, demanding SADD pay 5 million won if their protests delay subway operations by more than five minutes. In return, SADD requested Seoul Metro, a public enterprise affiliated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, to build elevators in 19 subway stations that currently have none. SADD will make a decision on Jan. 2 whether to accept the mediation plan.