130 staff deployed in advance at City Hall Station still could not prevent an 8-minute delay on Line 1 southbound; nine lawsuits already underway; illegal tent encampment faces immediate demolition proceedings if not removed by July 10
Seoul Metro said Wednesday it will apply a zero-tolerance policy and respond forcefully — invoking the Railway Safety Act and other relevant laws — against illegal subway boarding protests that a disability advocacy group resumed that day.
The group spent Tuesday night sleeping illegally inside City Hall Station before staging an illegal boarding protest on the Line 1 platform there during the Wednesday morning rush hour. The demonstration delayed a southbound Line 1 train by about eight minutes and caused congestion at the station, disrupting commuters.
Seoul Metro had deployed 130 personnel to the scene in advance — including about 100 subway security officers — and broadcast warnings under the Railway Safety Act ordering demonstrators to leave, in an effort to prevent interference with train operations.
Seoul Metro said it will maintain its zero-tolerance stance against illegal acts that hold commuters' basic right to mobility hostage, and will pursue all available measures including civil and criminal legal action. The agency currently has nine lawsuits — five criminal and four civil — pending against the group over charges including obstruction of traffic and interference with business operations.
Seoul Metro also said it will take strict action against an illegal tent encampment the group has maintained in the Line 1–Line 2 transfer corridor at City Hall Station since April 24. The agency issued a voluntary-removal notice on June 26, citing the need to ensure pedestrian safety and prevent fire and other safety hazards.
If the encampment is not removed by the July 10 deadline, Seoul Metro said it will immediately initiate legal proceedings — including a lawsuit seeking demolition of the unauthorized structure — to restore normal passage for commuters as quickly as possible.
"We will work closely with relevant authorities to respond strictly in accordance with the law and principles against any illegal acts that interfere with train operations or threaten public safety, and we will do our utmost to minimize inconvenience to citizens," Seoul Metro President Kim Tae-gyun said.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
