Jeonjangyeon, 'CCTV Release Controversy' Park Wi's Solidarity Proposal: "Let's Fight Together"

*This content was translated by AI.

The National Alliance for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Jeonjangyeon) extended a hand to YouTuber Park Wi, who faced widespread criticism over the controversy surrounding the release of CCTV footage from a KTX fall incident.

On the 2nd, Jeonjangyeon posted a lengthy message via SNS, stating, "We are sharing a post by Kim Sang-hee, director of Nodul Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities, regarding the recent Park Wi incident."

In that post, Director Kim began by saying about Park Wi: "Although we share the keyword 'disability,' at times he seemed like someone from an entirely different world to me, as if he were a non-disabled man in a wheelchair."

He continued, "My perspective on this incident has changed. I have once again confirmed that even someone who seemed to be from a different world can become a target of discrimination and hatred based on disability at any time in a society centered on the non-disabled."

Regarding Park Wi's release of the CCTV footage, Director Kim stated it was "a separate issue requiring criticism and review," while emphasizing, "We cannot treat that issue and the ableist hatred directed at him as the same thing."

Director Kim addressed Park Wi directly: "I hope you do not leave your experience merely as personal misfortune or a mistake. It would be good if we could discuss together why persons with disabilities must fall while moving, why they must rely on someone's help and kindness every time they move, and why complaints from persons with disabilities are immediately followed by terms like 'burden' and 'special privilege.'"

He further extended a hand of solidarity: "Let us read the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) together, participate in mobility rights campaigns together, and discuss disability rights using the language of rights rather than charity or consideration."

Adding, "Instead of offering comfort, I want to extend my hand to him. The world of resistance is far more arduous than the world of emotion, but now let us fight together," he concluded.

On the 21st of last month, Park Wi released CCTV footage showing himself being knocked off balance by the foot of a social service worker while disembarking from a KTX train. Recalling the incident, Park Wi said, "The social service worker did not intend to do so, but I was angry just because they placed their foot on the ramp." According to Park Wi, the social service worker apologized politely immediately after the accident.

However, shortly after the video's release, many netizens raised voices of criticism, arguing that it was wrong for a famous YouTuber with 1 million subscribers, Park Wi, to release the CCTV footage and publicly denounce the social service worker. Moreover, the controversy intensified due to points such as Park Wi not leaving the scene immediately after the accident, directly filming a reenactment video, and editing out apologies from staff members including the social service worker while including only his own claims in the released video.

Park Wi later acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and issued a brief apology, stating, "I failed to consider the position of the staff member who did their best to help me at the scene when the incident occurred and apologized politely." However, public outrage remains unchanged.

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*This content was translated by AI.