[News Terms] Who Are the 'Gyeonggyeseon Intelligence' Supported by Seoul City?

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The term 'borderline intellectual functioning' literally means a person who is positioned on the 'borderline' between disability and non-disability. It is also referred to as 'borderline intellectual disability,' 'general learning disability,' or 'slow learner,' but it is commonly called borderline intellectual functioning.

Borderline intellectual functioning refers to individuals with an intelligence quotient (IQ) between 71 and 84, who do not reach average intelligence. Their cognitive, learning, social adaptability, and emotional development are slower compared to peers, but since they do not meet the criteria for legal intellectual disability (IQ 70 or below), they do not receive policy support and fall into a welfare blind spot.

Borderline Intelligence Specialist Training.
Photo by Seoul City

Unlike intellectual disability, it is not easily noticeable, and developmental delays are not severe, so it is often not detected in early childhood. Intelligence improvement is possible if detected early and systematically developed, but most cases are identified only after middle school age, resulting in many being neglected without proper intelligence development at the appropriate time.

People with intellectual disability are often unaware of their low intelligence, but those with borderline intellectual functioning can be fully aware from a young age that their cognitive abilities and comprehension are slower than other children. Because of this, they are more likely to experience feelings of inferiority and alienation in school and daily life, and suffer from high levels of stress. However, with continuous effort from both parents and the individual, supported by good education, there are cases of achieving excellent academic results and entering prestigious universities, so improvement is possible depending on the level of effort.