Gwangju Nam-gu to Host 'Disability Empathy Festival' Breaking Down Discrimination

Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, will hold a Culture Festival for Empathy to improve awareness of disabilities and promote social integration ahead of Disability Day on the 20th.

According to Nam-gu on the 11th, the 44th Disability Day commemorative Culture Festival for Empathy will be held on the 19th from 2 p.m. for about two hours at the gymnasium on the first floor of the Bandabi Sports Center.

The event is organized by the nonprofit organization People Making a Barrier-Free Nam-gu and sponsored by Nam-gu Office, with about 200 attendees including residents with disabilities living in the district, facility and organization officials, and local residents.

The first part of the Culture Festival for Empathy will begin with a pre-ceremony performance by the Gwangju Disabled Artists Association, followed by congratulatory speeches and commendations for those who have contributed to the development of welfare for people with disabilities.

At the commendation ceremony, seven individuals, including social worker Oh Deok-hee working at Nam-gu Disabled Welfare Center and Kim Mi-seon, director of Maruhan Daycare Center for the Disabled, will receive commendations from the Nam-gu Mayor and the Chairman of the Nam-gu Council.

The second part of the event will be filled with various performances by residents with disabilities, who are the main participants of the day.

The Happiness Connection Choir and Cantabile Ensemble, both active in the Nam-gu Disabled Cultural Arts Group, will take the stage to showcase their refined choral skills and musical instrument performances.

Additionally, four clubs affiliated with the Gwangju Welfare Center for the Visually Impaired, Pureundongsan Daycare Center for the Disabled, Lavri Daycare Center, and Sohwa Angel’s House in the district will present diverse performances such as hip-hop dance, harmonica playing, and Nanta percussion shows, deepening empathy for social integration without prejudice and discrimination.

A Nam-gu official stated, "To create a society where people with disabilities can enjoy a dignified life, it is important to foster a culture and awareness that respect disability as a difference rather than discrimination." He added, "The Culture Festival for Empathy, now in its sixth year, will be a valuable opportunity to communicate more intimately and break down the barriers between people with and without disabilities."