(LEAD) Activist group says will halt subway protest on gov't pledge to review disability rights budget

Seoul subway boarding protests will cease, an activist group announced Wednesday, following a pledge by the Budget Minister to scrutinize the allocation of next year's budget for disability rights. Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, which staged various rallies at major Seoul subway stations, demanded increased government spending to protect the rights of people with disabilities.

The group had vowed to hold such protests daily, but halted them hours after Budget Minister Park Hong-geun committed to closely reviewing related matters in the upcoming budget planning. Park emphasized the government's ongoing commitment to ensuring the basic rights of people with disabilities, including their rights to transportation and employment.

The minister stated that the budget is not subject to negotiation based on the intensity of demonstrations, but rather based on responsible policy review and fiscal feasibility.