- Press conference condemning the opposition to the removal of facilities for the disabled in front of Jeonju Cathedral

On the afternoon of the 1st, the Jeonbuk Disability Discrimination Abolition Coalition (Jeonbuk DisCo) and the Jeonbuk 420 Disability Discrimination Abolition Joint Struggle Team (Jeonbuk 420 DisAbolition Team) held a 'National Simultaneous Press Conference Urging for the Guarantee of the Rights to Remove Facilities for the Disabled by the Korean Catholic Church' in front of Jeonju Cathedral at 2 p.m.

Jeonbuk DisCo and Jeonbuk 420 DisAbolition Team are organizations formed by disability and human rights groups in the province and civil society organizations. During the press conference, they shouted, "Disabled individuals should live a dignified life in the community, not in facilities," demanding that the Catholic Church halt the legislative abolition movement it has been carrying out and issue an apology.

Participants of the press conference pointed out that despite the passage of the "Law on Support for Independent Living and Housing Transition of the Disabled" in the National Assembly in March, which guarantees the basic rights of the disabled, the Korean Catholic Church distorted this and sent letters requesting cooperation for legislative abolition to cathedrals nationwide.

They stated, "The Catholic Church is spreading false claims that the law does not consider severely disabled individuals, and a nationwide petition for abolition has garnered over 60,000 signatures."

Additionally, they criticized the Catholic Church for not recognizing the sincerity of the removal of facilities movement, mentioning the ongoing high-altitude protest by the National Association of Facility-Removed Disabled Persons led by Park Cho-yeon on top of the bell tower of the HyeHwa-dong Cathedral in Seoul since April 18, stating that the Catholic Church not only failed to acknowledge the authenticity of the removal of facilities movement but also annulled the promised discussions.

The scheduled meeting between the Catholic Social Welfare Committee and the TFT on April 25 was canceled due to the unilateral conditions set by the Catholic Church and the demand for excluding representatives.

In the statement released that day, the participants strongly criticized, stating, "The Korean Catholic Church is neglecting the policies recommended by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the removal of facilities, and is infringing on the rights of the disabled by advocating a protection logic centered on facilities." They announced four demands:

1. Immediately apologize for distorting the removal of facilities for the disabled and the legislative abolition movement, and accept the Independent Support Law.
2. Withdraw the misconceptions about the removal of facilities and engage in policy cooperation that meets international standards.
3. Establish a TF with disabled individuals and organizations and develop a practical roadmap for the removal of facilities.
4. The entertainment-style priests should officially declare their opposition to the removal of facilities within the church and support justice.

Yang Eun-joo, the executive director of Jeonbuk DisCo, cited Pope Francis' statement that "disabled individuals should not become society's 'hidden exiles'" and expressed that they will continue to stand in solidarity and struggle for the right of disabled individuals to live independently.