South Korea
This page features the news on disability from South Korea in the Debrief Library. See also news from other countries.
Contents
Civil Society and Community
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Resolution remains elusive for Seoul's disabled accessibility issues (Jan, Korea Times)
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)
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.
Disabled advocacy group to resume rush-hour subway protests. “Demanding measures to improve mobility rights and budget for disability rights, 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.” (Apr, Yonhap News) See a detailed feature on the protests and how the movement goes back to 2001 in the Nation.
Culture, Entertainment and Media
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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.” (Aug, Polygon)
Employment, Business and Work
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”They cancelled my job interviews because I'm disabled” a linkedin post that went viral. (Sep, BBC)
Institutions and Deinstitutionalization
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Grave concern on recent claims in Korea that institutions for disabled people in Europe are models of good practice. (Mar, ENIL)
A column reflecting on deinstitutionalization and the leading politician from the government party who said that “deinstitutionalization is a matter of choice.” (Apr, Hankyoreh)