Disability in South Korea

Leader of disability rights protests referred to prosecution on illegal demonstration charges: “Park Kyoung-seok, the 63-year-old co-leader of the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, was referred to the prosecution by police on Thursday on charges of illegally occupying roads and obstructing subway services during 38 protest rallies across Seoul during the two year period until January.” (Jul, The Korea Herald)

Disabled activists stage surprise subway protest in downtown Seoul on nat'l disability day. (Apr, Yonhap News Agency)

Disability rights activists are referred to prosecution over protests in the subway during rush-hour. (Jan, Korea Times) Comment on this “zero tolerance” approach, which includes Seoul Metro suing the protestors. Protests paused during further dialogue.

Seoul’s callous response to disability rights protests. “While trying to stop the disabled activists from boarding the subway, Seoul Metro workers and the police forcibly pulled activists away by their wheelchairs.” (Jan, Hankyoreh)

Resolution remains elusive for Seoul's disabled accessibility issues (Jan, Korea Times)

Disabled advocacy group to resume rush-hour subway protests. “SADD has been leading subway protests since late last year and often caused delays in metro services during rush hour as some of its members used their wheelchairs to prevent trains from departing.” (2022, Yonhap News) See a detailed feature on the protests and how the movement goes back to 2001.

TV and Film

Extraordinary Attorney Woo’s episodes have good and bad autistic representation. “In highlighting the realities of discrimination through the microcosmic lens of Hanbada, Extraordinary Attorney Woo excels. [But, as well as reinforcing some misconceptions about autism, the] ultimately supportive nature of Young-woo’s colleagues has led some to criticize the show for being too fantastical.” (2022, Polygon)

Life expectancy and healthy life expectancy of Korean registered disabled 2014–2018, Korea National Rehabilitation Center database. Study confirms disabled people have a shorter life expectancy than those without. (Sep, BMC Public Health)

”They cancelled my job interviews because I'm disabled” a linkedin post that went viral. (2022, BBC)

Overview

A column reflecting on deinstitutionalization and the leading politician from the government party who said that “deinstitutionalization is a matter of choice.” (2022, Hankyoreh)

Conditions in Institutions

Grave concern on recent claims in Korea that institutions for disabled people in Europe are models of good practice. (Mar, ENIL)

39 Barrier free destinations in our country a new book (In Korean, Sep, imedialife)

Using the Capability Approach to Review the National Legislative Frameworks for Support Services for Persons with Disabilities in Four Countries in Asia: “most countries address support services, including assistive devices, only from the perspective of a social security measure for persons with disabilities living in poverty, failing to uphold the rights of those not meeting those eligibility criteria.” (2022, Societies)

Representative Kim Ye-Ji Interview. Disability is my political identity. (In Korean, Jul, The Indigo)