On the morning of the 22nd, members of the National Alliance of the Disabled for the Elimination of Discrimination (전장연), who were conducting a promotional campaign at the Hyehwa Station platform of Seoul Subway Line 4, are being forcibly removed by subway security guards from the Seoul Transportation Corporation. /Yonhap News

The National Union of the Disabled People’s Movement (Jeonjangyeon) attempted to hold a protest at Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4 in Seoul on the morning of the 22nd, but the Seoul Metropolitan Government forced them to evacuate outside the station.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Jeonjangyeon members appeared around 8 a.m. at the Dongdaemun direction platform of Hyehwa Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to conduct a 'subway campaign during rush hour.' They were urging Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to "reverse the dismissal of 400 severely disabled workers in rights-centered jobs."

In response, security personnel from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, wielding shields, surrounded Jeonjangyeon members at the platform to prevent them from approaching the trains in operation. The government requested that Jeonjangyeon move outside the station, citing violations of the Railway Safety Act.

At 8 a.m. on the 22nd, 전장연 is being forcibly removed at Hyehwa Station on Seoul Subway Line 4. /Facebook capture

Jeonjangyeon members resisted, shouting, "Let go of this," "Is this how police ought to act?" and "Why do you keep grabbing our clothes?" During the protest, one participant's shoe sole detached, prompting them to ask, "What will you do about the shoes?"

When Jeonjangyeon members did not comply with the evacuation request, the Seoul Metropolitan Government deployed subway security personnel and, around 8:16 a.m., pushed them out of the station. Physical clashes occurred during this process, and heated exchanges took place.

The head of the security division of the Hyehwa Police Station stated to Jeonjangyeon members at the scene, "You are holding a rally despite the fourth evacuation request," adding, "If you assault employees of the Seoul Metropolitan Government or police during the evacuation process, you may face punishment."

Members of the National Alliance of the Disabled for the Elimination of Discrimination (전장연) are preparing a promotional campaign at the Hyehwa Station platform in Seoul on the 22nd. On this day, 전장연 was forcibly removed by the subway authorities. /Yonhap News

Ultimately, Jeonjangyeon evacuated the station about 20 minutes after starting their campaign. Jeonjangyeon’s permanent representative Park Kyung-seok also exited the station using the elevator around 8:25 a.m. The group then moved to in front of Seoul National University Hospital in Yeonkeun-dong to continue their campaign.

Earlier, on the previous day, Jeonjangyeon carried out a subway 'boarding protest' at the Dongdaemun-facing platform of Hyehwa Station at 8 a.m. They also staged surprise protests at two other Subway Line 4 stations, Onam Station in Namyangju and Seonbawi Station in Gwacheon. As a result, trains arriving at Hyehwa Station experienced a 13-minute delay because the doors did not close properly. From 9:02 a.m. to 9:24 a.m., trains heading towards Dongdaemun passed Hyehwa Station without stopping. Additionally, trains could not operate for 35 minutes from 8 a.m. at Onam and Seonbawi stations.