[Reporter’s Notebook] When Will the Survey on Slow Learners in Local Governments with Many Stories Take Place?

Slow learners refer to individuals who fall within the intelligence quotient (IQ) range of 71 to 84, distinguishing them from those with intellectual disabilities and those without disabilities. They struggle to integrate into our society from infancy through adolescence and adulthood. Misunderstandings are common, and they are often stigmatized as socially maladjusted for being perceived as lacking awareness. While support from those around them, especially government attention, is crucial for their smooth integration as members of society, the reality is bleak.

Local governments do not even have an accurate count of these individuals. The slow learner ordinances enacted by the 17 autonomous districts of Seoul include provisions allowing district heads to conduct surveys on slow learners when establishing support plans. However, after checking with nine district offices, it was found that except for Seocho District Office, none had commissioned actual research projects. Currently, local governments only speculate that 13.6% of the total population falls within the IQ range of 71 to 84 based on the normal distribution curve theory from intelligence testing.

District offices are supposed to manage slow learners within their jurisdictions based on local ordinances. When asked why they do not conduct surveys, various answers were given. A representative from Yangcheon District Office mentioned that it is practically difficult to identify slow learners solely by IQ and that there is no clear standard for distinguishing them. A representative from Dongdaemun District Office frankly stated that the local government's capacity is insufficient to conduct such surveys. A representative from Geumcheon District Office said the target group is too broad to survey individually. Although the reasons given by local governments varied slightly, the conclusion was the same: the survey population is too large, and there is no suitable criterion other than IQ to select them.

For these reasons, most local governments seem to be neglecting surveys again this year. The 2025 local government financial plans were finalized last month. After investment reviews, budget formulation is practically completed by July. However, it was confirmed that districts such as Gangseo, Yongsan, Yangcheon, Jungnang, and Dongdaemun did not allocate budgets related to slow learner surveys. This implies that next year, the approach of establishing support measures before accurately identifying the number of individuals may be repeated.

Policies created without understanding the actual situation cannot be satisfactory. Families of slow learners met in the field unanimously voiced the urgent need for job support. However, the projects promoted by local governments were unrelated to the core needs, such as magic shows and photography classes. Due to the lack of support measures, parents of slow learners are navigating difficulties on their own. During the reporting process, one parent of a slow learner even looked for part-time jobs on behalf of their child, who had become a recluse. This occurred because the scale of beneficiaries and their needs were not accurately identified during policy formulation.

Even if it is like searching for a needle in a sandpit, to find the needle, one must first step onto the sandy beach. The same applies to local government surveys. Even if reliable survey results are not obtained initially, efforts to accurately identify the number of individuals should be made. Surveys should not be postponed. If local governments give up because of lack of capacity or the large number of targets, who in our society should slow learners rely on?