“Gwangju City Calls for Improved Treatment of Disabled Workplace Sports Teams”

Kim Nayoon, Gwangju City Council Member, "Discrimination in Bonuses, Contract Payments, and Allowances"

Kim Nayoon, Gwangju City Council Member.

There have been urgent calls for improving the treatment of athletes in the disabled workplace sports teams affiliated with Gwangju City.

On the 20th, Kim Nayoon, a member of the Gwangju City Council (Democratic Party, Buk-gu 6), stated during the review of the 2nd supplementary budget proposal by the Gwangju City Culture and Sports Office, "Although these are workplace sports teams under the city, separate operational ordinances and guidelines are applied to disabled and non-disabled athletes, resulting in discriminatory elements," adding, "The criteria for athlete classification for disabled athletes are much stricter, so a reorganization is necessary."

Councilor Kim pointed out, "The prize money for disabled workplace sports team athletes is less than half compared to non-disabled athletes based on international competition standards," and "Disabled athletes face discrimination not only in prize money and annual salary but also in signing bonuses and various allowances."

Kim also said, "Gwangju City entrusts the operation of all three disabled workplace sports teams to the Disabled Sports Association," and "Even the city hall website only introduces the non-disabled workplace sports teams, and the disabled workplace sports teams cannot be found. Please consider improving the treatment so that disabled workplace sports team athletes can focus on their sports without feeling relative deprivation."

Meanwhile, Gwangju City has 12 registered athletes in three disabled workplace sports team disciplines: table tennis, archery, and shooting.