Press conference urging guarantee of disabled people's right to use intercity buses

A voice calling for the guarantee of the right of disabled individuals to use intercity buses without discrimination echoed in Jeonju.

On the morning of the 2nd, the Jeonbuk Alliance for the Abolition of Discrimination against the Disabled (Jeonbuk Jangcha Yeon) and the Jeonbuk branch of the National Alliance for the Mobility of the Disabled held a press conference at 10:30 a.m. next to the Jeonju Express Bus Terminal parking lot, demanding responsible actions from the government and transportation companies, stating, "Disabled individuals also want to take buses to their hometowns during holidays."

The group criticized, "Despite a court ruling in February that GoldStar Express did not install wheelchair lifts, which was deemed discrimination against the disabled, the government, local authorities, and transportation companies continue to neglect the guarantee of mobility rights."

The movement for the mobility rights of disabled individuals has been ongoing since the early 2000s, with achievements such as the introduction of low-floor buses in urban areas and special transportation services. However, when it comes to intercity buses, there is not a single vehicle capable of accommodating wheelchairs. Even the lift buses that were piloted on some routes in 2019 disappeared due to COVID-19.

An official from Jeonbuk Jangcha Yeon stated, "The right of disabled individuals to move is a fundamental right and a right to survival," adding, "We will continue legal action and advocacy against major transportation companies in Jeonbuk to create a world where disabled individuals can take buses to their hometowns without discrimination."