They Called It a Child-Friendly City... No Barrier-Free Integrated Playground in Buk-gu, Gwangju

Among the 90 children's parks managed by Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, none have barrier-free integrated playgrounds.

Im Jong-guk, a member of the Buk-gu Council in Gwangju Metropolitan City, emphasized the need to expand barrier-free integrated playgrounds during the 2024 Economic Welfare Committee administrative audit on the 24th.

A barrier-free integrated playground refers to a facility where all children, regardless of disability, can play together. It is characterized by the absence of physical barriers such as curbs, stairs, and narrow paths that hinder mobility, thereby improving accessibility for children with disabilities.

Councilor Im stated, "According to the Buk-gu Children's Right to Play Guarantee Ordinance, support projects for vulnerable children are mandated, and although Buk-gu was certified as a child-friendly city in 2022, there are currently no barrier-free integrated playgrounds. This contrasts with districts such as Seo-gu, Nam-gu, and Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju, where integrated play facilities are available."

He continued, "It is necessary to create spaces where people with and without disabilities can interact by referring to integrated playgrounds installed in other local governments. Through improving awareness of disabilities, the administration must make efforts to ensure that children grow up harmoniously and healthily."