Namwon-si Successfully Holds Disabled Persons' Day Ceremony at Disabled Persons' Harmony Center

[Namwon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Young-kwon] Namwon City, Jeonbuk, announced on the 21st that it successfully held a commemorative ceremony in connection with disability organizations and facilities at the Disability Harmony Center on the 20th, in celebration of Disability Day.

The event, hosted by the Intellectual Disability Association (President Kim Hyun-sook), was attended by the Mayor of Namwon, the Chairperson of Namwon City Council, heads of various institutions and organizations, as well as about 100 people including persons with disabilities and non-disabled individuals.

As a pre-ceremony event, the program opened with a guitar performance prepared by the Pureun Sijeol team, followed by a choir performance by the Happy Dream team composed of persons with disabilities. Commendations were awarded to 17 exemplary persons with disabilities and contributors who have significantly advanced disability welfare.

To commemorate Disability Day, during the Disability Day Commemoration Week (April 20 - April 26), the city plans to conduct disability awareness improvement education targeting persons with disabilities and workers at disability organizations and facilities, aiming to narrow the gap in perceptions about disabilities and create an environment where mutual understanding is possible.

Through this commemorative event, the city intends to foster a social atmosphere where persons with and without disabilities can be happy together, and to raise awareness that persons with disabilities are also members of society working together to overcome COVID-19, thereby striving to improve perceptions to create a more inclusive and discrimination-free Namwon beyond prejudice against disabilities.

A city official said, “Although we cannot hold a large-scale offline event this year due to COVID-19, we hope that the modest commemorative ceremony and disability awareness improvement education will somewhat alleviate the feelings of alienation and isolation experienced by persons with disabilities and help in overcoming COVID-19.”

Namwon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jeong Young-kwon wjddudrnjs@asiae.co.kr