[SideB] Paralyzed from the waist down before high school graduation: "I couldn't give up on my life"

After Admission Cancellation at US Culinary School
Rehabilitating in Hospital While Preparing for College Entrance

Admitted to Ewha Womans University This Year
Achievement in Triathlon Competition

"I Want to Work at an International Organization"

Juhyun Lee, who entered the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Ewha Womans University this year. (Photo by the individual)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] "I wondered, could I really become paralyzed? What would happen if I did? I kept thinking about that. As I stayed in the hospital, it finally hit me that I was paralyzed. I wondered why this happened to me, but I couldn't just dwell on that thought. I thought my parents would worry, and it wouldn't be good for me either. I couldn't give up on my life."

Juhyun Lee, born in 2000, was involved in a traffic accident in January 2019, just before graduating from high school. She was taking a taxi to visit her maternal grandmother in the hospital when a vehicle running a red light from the opposite direction collided with them.

She had to change her plan to attend a CIA culinary school in the United States. Considering her injured condition, it was judged that adapting to school life alone would be difficult.

Juhyun spent a year hospitalized while preparing again for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). She had to balance rehabilitation treatment and college entrance preparation, so time was always tight. Studying in a shared hospital room sometimes made her nerves tense. She recalled, "We couldn't turn off the television that several people were watching, so sometimes the noise made me a bit sensitive."

"At first, I couldn't even get up by myself. As I received rehabilitation treatment, I gradually became able to stand on my own. I also gained arm strength to move the wheelchair by myself. The more actively I engaged in treatment, the more I felt hopeful that the chances of returning to daily life would increase."

As a result of her efforts, Juhyun entered Ewha Womans University’s Department of Political Science and International Relations this year and won a bronze medal at the Cybathlon competition held last month. Cybathlon is a sports event where people with physical disabilities use technologically designed assistive devices to complete missions. The rankings are determined by who can finish the missions in the shortest time.

Juhyun started raising her pet cat 'Chamkkae' two months ago. Chamkkae occasionally made its presence known during the Zoom interview with Juhyun. Its graceful walking was adorable. Juhyun and 6-month-old Chamkkae.
(Photo by Juhyun Lee)

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), she has only been able to attend university three times. Juhyun expressed regret, saying, "I want to experience the ordinary college life of eating with friends after class. Because of COVID-19, I have never been to a lecture hall."

After the accident, Juhyun’s dreams changed. She decided to focus more on current affairs, which she had always been interested in. That’s why she chose the Department of Political Science and International Relations and now aspires to work at an international organization. She said, "I want to work in the UN departments that support the human rights of people with disabilities, women’s rights, or environmental policies. I also plan to attend classes to learn French, the official language of the UN."

Sometimes, she feels the gaze she never noticed when she was non-disabled. At those times, Juhyun thinks, "People with disabilities are still unfamiliar in our society."

Juhyun said, "To eliminate prejudice against people with disabilities, we need to be active in society. I think the best way to break down prejudice is to show that we live ordinary daily lives just like anyone else."