National Integration Committee Proposes Six Key Policies to Enhance Mobility Convenience for Persons with Disabilities

Improvement of Special Transportation Services and Enhancement of Rental Car Convenience
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: "Will Actively Review and Reflect with Relevant Ministries"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Advisory Committee on National Integration announced six key policy proposals on the 30th to improve convenience in transportation for people with disabilities, including improvements to disabled call taxis.

On the same day, the National Integration Committee held a proposal presentation and discussion forum of the Special Committee on Improving Mobility Convenience for People with Disabilities at the Irum Center in Yeouido, Seoul, under the theme "Freedom of Movement for All."

Since its launch in September last year, the Special Committee has prepared six major policy proposals through weekly regular meetings, field visits, and consultations with ministries over four months: ▲Improvement of special transportation means (disabled call taxis) ▲Universal design of public transportation ▲Improvement of individual mobility devices ▲Creation of a safe walking environment ▲Strengthening the establishment and utilization of information on mobility convenience and accessibility for people with disabilities ▲Expansion of awareness for disability-friendly mobility convenience.

Seok Bang, Chairperson of the Special Committee on Improving Mobility Convenience for People with Disabilities, stated, "Accessibility to special transportation means (disabled call taxis) and public transportation is the most urgent issue to be resolved from the perspective of people with disabilities," adding, "Strengthening support for individual mobility devices such as mobility aids, private vehicles, and rental cars, as well as improving information accessibility, is important as it guarantees the right of choice for people with disabilities and expands the scope of mobility rights discussions."

Based on the results presented that day, the National Integration Committee plans to actively communicate with the government in future policy decision-making processes. Han-gil Kim, Chairperson of the National Integration Committee, said, "At the National Integration Committee performance report meeting last December, President Yoon Seok-yeol emphasized that improving mobility convenience for people with disabilities is not a matter of charitable welfare but a matter of fairness, as well as the dignity and human rights of our society," adding, "Today’s proposals from the Special Committee will serve as a foundation to provide fair mobility opportunities for people with disabilities."

At the event, Myung-so Oh, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said regarding follow-up measures, "We will actively review and reflect the Special Committee’s proposals with related ministries, including improving accessibility to key transportation means for vulnerable groups such as low-floor buses and special transportation means, as well as enhancing convenience in rental car use."

Meanwhile, Young-hee Yang, Vice President of the Korea Brain Lesion Disability Human Rights Association and co-executive director of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), is drawing attention by participating as a member of the Special Committee. Park Kyung-seok, co-executive director of Jeonjangyeon who leads subway boarding protests in the same organization, also met Chairperson Han-gil Kim at the Irum Center where the discussion forum was held.