Two Additional 'Lifelong Education Centers for People with Developmental Disabilities' Designated in Gangseo and Dongdaemun Districts, Seoul

A Total of 22 Locations Confirmed... Goal to Designate All 25 Districts by Year-End

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City announced on the 24th that Gangseo-gu and Dongdaemun-gu were selected as a result of the autonomous district contest project for lifelong education centers for people with developmental disabilities conducted in April and May. Accordingly, lifelong education centers for people with developmental disabilities will open in a total of 22 out of 25 autonomous districts in Seoul.

People with developmental disabilities face considerable difficulties in entering college or finding employment after graduating from high school, unlike non-disabled individuals, and end up spending most of their time at home. Their caregivers, usually parents, must either take full responsibility for their care or rely on private institutions costing more than 3 million won per month, or move between welfare centers for the disabled and day care facilities.

To address these issues, Seoul City decided to designate one lifelong education center for people with developmental disabilities in each of the 25 autonomous districts by 2020, starting with Nowon-gu and Eunpyeong-gu in 2016. The centers provide social adaptation training and vocational skill enhancement programs for adults aged 18 and over with developmental disabilities who wish to continue their education. Seoul City plans to operate 21 centers this year with an investment of approximately 9.8 billion won.

Gangseo-gu, selected in this contest, has the highest number of registered disabled persons in Seoul (about 40,000) and the second highest number of people with developmental disabilities (about 2,400). To open the center in the second half of the year, the district secured an entire floor of a newly constructed building in the Magok district.

Dongdaemun-gu also prepared a space within the Dasarang Welfare Center, a district-run complex facility for the disabled, and plans to open the center in the first half of next year after structural modifications following October.

In the future, if Jung-gu, Seocho-gu, and Yongsan-gu participate in the autonomous district contest in the second half of the year, it will be possible to establish lifelong education centers for people with developmental disabilities in all autonomous districts of Seoul.

Jung Jin-woo, Director of Welfare Planning at Seoul City, said, "We believe it is the public's role to create an environment where parents of people with developmental disabilities do not have to send their children to expensive private institutions or consider immigration, but can live independently within the community." He promised, "We will do our best to lay the foundation for people with disabilities to live happily as proud members of society alongside non-disabled individuals and to provide the services they want."