Mapo-gu Creates a Happy 'Coexistence City' for People with and without Disabilities

Mapo-gu Announces 2023 Comprehensive Plan for Disability Welfare... 41 Projects in 3 Areas

The registered disabled population in Mapo-gu is 12,000, accounting for 3.5% of the total district population

This year, the disability welfare budget has been increased by 20% from the previous year to 39.2 billion KRW

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo District, is meeting with people with disabilities using the Mapo Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled to listen to their welfare needs and difficulties.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Mapo-gu (Mayor Park Gang-su) has formulated the 2023 comprehensive plan for disability welfare to create a “coexistence city Mapo” where people with disabilities can live well, attracting public attention by promoting customized disability welfare projects tailored to each life cycle.

According to the 2022 Disability Statistics Yearbook, the total registered disabled population in South Korea is 2,644,700 (as of 2021), meaning one out of every 20 citizens is a person with a disability.

Currently, about 12,000 people with disabilities are registered in Mapo-gu, accounting for 3.5% of the total district population. Including cohabiting family members, 10% of the residents are directly or indirectly affected by disability welfare policies.

Accordingly, the district has allocated a disability welfare budget of 39.2 billion KRW, an increase of about 20% compared to the previous year, and announced that it will promote 41 disability welfare projects in three areas for a coexistence city Mapo where people with disabilities enjoy a happy daily life and future: ▲ Establishing a foundation for independence and promoting human rights for people with disabilities ▲ Supporting care and living stability for people with disabilities ▲ Expanding disability welfare infrastructure.

Foundation for Independence and Promotion of Human Rights for People with Disabilities

First, the district will expand the foundation for independence by supporting community-centered independent living services and promote various disability awareness improvement projects to encourage social participation of people with disabilities and foster a culture of empathy toward disabilities.

To this end, 11 detailed projects will be implemented, including ▲ Operation of the Disability Coexistence Committee ▲ Operation of the Disability One-Heart Festival ▲ Expansion of disability job projects ▲ Creating well-being homes for people with disabilities ▲ Support for disability awareness improvement and policy projects.

In particular, to collect voices from the field regarding disability welfare policies and actively reflect disability welfare agendas in district administration, the district has newly established the Disability Coexistence Committee as a committee directly under the mayor as part of the 8th local government administration’s pledges and is currently operating it.

Support for Care and Living Stability for People with Disabilities

Additionally, to meet the increasing demand for care due to the growing disabled population and to stabilize the living conditions of households with people with disabilities, 15 detailed projects will be promoted, including ▲ Operation of the Cultural Creation Center for People with Developmental Disabilities ▲ Operation of day care facilities ▲ Medical expense support.

A district official stated, “The proportion of people with disabilities in the Korean population was 2.4% in 2001 but has now more than doubled to 5.1%. Tailored care and living stability support for households with people with disabilities are necessary due to the increase in the disabled population,” explaining the reason for policy promotion.

The district announced plans to operate various customized programs through the Cultural Creation Center for People with Developmental Disabilities, which opened in November last year to support cultural and artistic activities for people with developmental disabilities. These programs include leisure programs for people with developmental disabilities, training courses for tourism guides and cultural arts experts, and individual counseling services.

Expansion of Disability Welfare Infrastructure

Furthermore, the district plans to create a pleasant and safe environment by operating welfare facilities tailored to different types of disabilities and improving aging facilities to build welfare infrastructure where people with disabilities and their families can live with peace of mind.

To this end, 15 detailed projects will be focused on, including ▲ Installation of the Disability Happiness and Companion House ▲ Operation of the Mapo Disabled Comprehensive Welfare Center ▲ Operation of the Mapo Disabled Family Support Center ▲ Operation of the Mapo Assistive Device Repair Center ▲ Disability voucher taxis.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Creating a coexistence city for people with disabilities hinges on preparing customized policies by disability type and building infrastructure. Mapo-gu will actively discover and promote customized projects that respond to changes in the environment of disability welfare policies and diverse welfare demands, and will do its best to promote the human rights and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.”