Gwangju Dong-gu, Vision Proclamation for Creating a Disability-Friendly City on the 17th

On the 17th, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City announced that it held a vision proclamation ceremony at the Dong-gu Multipurpose Gymnasium to create a 'Disability-Friendly City Dong-gu' where people with disabilities can live well.

With the slogan "Not Difference but Empathy," the ceremony was attended by about 600 people including local residents with and without disabilities and key guests. Jeong Da-eun, Secretary General of Vision Disabled Independent Living Center, Lee Seung-yoon, representative of E.T Baseball Team, Jang Gil-sook, a poet with disabilities, and Kim Ki-sung, a representative of participants in disability employment, read the "Charter of Disability Human Rights."

Following this, Dong-gu held the inaugural ceremony for its first project under the hometown love fund initiative launched last year, the "Gwangju Dong-gu E.T Baseball Team." The team owner is Im Taek, Dong-gu Mayor; the team leader is Jang Se-jong, Director of Dong-gu Disabled Welfare Center; the honorary coach is Kim Seong-han, former Kia Tigers manager; and 29 youths with developmental disabilities participated.

Additionally, through the "Neoulgaji Sports Day," a sports event for people with disabilities, a harmonious venue was created where people with disabilities could share joy and interact through physical activities.

Im Taek, Dong-gu Mayor, said, "About 5,700 people with disabilities reside in our Dong-gu, accounting for 5.3%, the highest ratio among the five autonomous districts of Gwangju. We will do our best to create a society where people with and without disabilities grow and develop together based on mutual consideration and understanding, making 'Disability-Friendly City Gwangju Dong-gu.'"

Meanwhile, under the vision "Not Difference but Empathy, Disability-Friendly City Gwangju Dong-gu," Dong-gu plans to implement 56 detailed projects across four major strategies for people with disabilities by 2027. The four major strategies are ▲Creating a living environment where people with disabilities can live well ▲Strengthening income security systems and supporting independent living for people with disabilities ▲Providing customized education and leisure support considering the characteristics of people with disabilities ▲Promoting social participation and guaranteeing rights of people with disabilities. Following the three friendly cities for seniors, women, and children, Dong-gu plans to build a warm disability-friendly city created together by people with and without disabilities.