Chairperson Choi Hojung Visits Independent Living Support Facility for People with Developmental Disabilities with Irish Ambassador to Korea

Visit to Neulpureunnamu Welfare Center in Gangseo-gu at the Suggestion of Ambassador Michelle Winthrop
Discussion on Barista Training for People with Developmental Disabilities
Chairperson Choi: "We Will Move Forward Together Without Leaving Anyone Behind"

On February 12, Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, visited the Neulpureunnamu Welfare Center in Gangseo-gu together with Michelle Winthrop, Ambassador of Ireland to Korea.

The welfare center, operated by the St. John Welfare Association, a social welfare corporation, is an independent living support facility that provides comprehensive services to enable people with developmental disabilities to live as autonomous members of the local community. The center is managed according to the guidelines of the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, which is based in Ireland.

This visit was arranged at the suggestion of Ambassador Winthrop, who had previously toured the center and proposed the visit to Chairperson Choi. In a letter, Ambassador Winthrop stated, “I was impressed by the support provided at the center, where barista training helps people with developmental disabilities who are slow learners to achieve independent living and dignity. This reflects the positive energy that Seoul possesses.”

During the visit, Chairperson Choi and Ambassador Winthrop discussed the introduction of the institution and exchanged views on independent living facilities for people with developmental disabilities in both Korea and Ireland. Guided by the foundation’s chairperson, members of the religious order, and the director of the center, they toured group homes, the work activity room, and Granada Caf?, a sheltered workshop for people with disabilities, where they also met and spoke with users.

When Ambassador Winthrop remarked that the center’s program, which supports users’ independence and helps them become confident members of the community through barista training, is a truly practical support measure, Chairperson Choi responded, “I will closely observe the site to see if there are any difficulties faced by users, and if there are areas that need improvement, I will work with the relevant agencies to address them.”

Chairperson Choi also noted that he was struck by the ambassador’s reference in her letter to people with developmental disabilities as “people with learning difficulties,” and added, “Those here are members of our community who may learn a bit more slowly. The council will continue its efforts to ensure that all members of society can move forward together without anyone being left behind.”

Meanwhile, Chairperson Choi presented Ambassador Winthrop with the English edition of “The Boy Is Coming” by Han Kang, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. This was in response to Ambassador Winthrop’s earlier gift of “Dubliners” to Chairperson Choi at the beginning of the year.