Mayor Choi Hogwon of Yeongdeungpo Leads "Three-Pronged Support for People with Disabilities" in Sports, Education, and Welfare

'Harmony Sports Festival' Held at Yeouido Park
Mayor: "We Will Continue to Expand Sports Facilities for People with Disabilities"
Customized Educational Spaces for the Visually Impaired and People with Developmental Disabilities Also in Operation

At 10 a.m. on November 4, under the warm autumn sun, Yeouido Park's Culture Square was filled with energetic cheers and laughter. The site of the "Yeongdeungpo District Local Landmark Harmony Sports Festival," which brought together about 500 people including people with disabilities, their families, and volunteers, became a true celebration. Participants sweated and encouraged each other as they competed in various events such as pickleball, basketball, soccer, badminton, and survival games.

Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, is greeting a person with a disability at the "Yeongdeungpo District Local Landmark Harmony Sports Festival." Provided by Yeongdeungpo District Office.

This event, now in its second year, was held as part of a Seoul Metropolitan Government public contest project. Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, who has shown a keen interest in sports for people with disabilities and lifelong education, worked together with district staff to secure Seoul city funding and organize the festival.

Ham Giseon, a participant in the event, said, "It is difficult for people with disabilities to have opportunities to exercise in daily life, so I am grateful that the district office is taking an active interest in disability policies and providing strong support. I hope that meaningful events like this will continue to be held and expand so that our taxes are not wasted."

Mayor Choi stated, "We are continuously expanding indoor sports facilities and improving the exercise environment so that people with disabilities can enjoy a variety of sports safely and comfortably. I am delighted that we could spend such a joyful time together in the beautiful autumn weather."

"Ordinance Revised to Prioritize Access to Sports Facilities for People with Disabilities"

In Yeongdeungpo District alone, there are about 14,740 people with disabilities, which means 4 out of every 100 residents. The district has made significant efforts to promote sports for people with disabilities. As a result, Yeongdeungpo District achieved second place overall at this year's Seoul Metropolitan Disabled Sports Competition.

To further promote sports for people with disabilities, the district operates special sports classes and local sports programs for people with disabilities, and offers customized on-site guidance programs. The district is committed to continuously investing in and supporting sports so that lives can be improved through physical activity.

This year, Yeongdeungpo District opened its first indoor park golf course at the Singil 3-dong district office, designating every Wednesday as a day exclusively for people with disabilities. The newly established indoor park golf courses in community centers or sports facility spaces have been made barrier-free, with ramps and other features, so that both people with disabilities and seniors can use them comfortably.

At the event, Mayor Choi said, "We are currently working to revise the ordinance so that sports facilities are given priority access to people with disabilities. Recently, we held a golf tournament for people with disabilities at the new indoor park golf facility, and we are also expanding access to sports facilities along the Anyangcheon stream so that people with disabilities can use them."

This year, the district is also in the process of amending the "Sports Center Disability Quota Ordinance," which is currently under legislative notice. The revised ordinance would allow the mayor to take necessary measures to ensure that people with disabilities have priority access to sports centers over other users.

Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, is delivering a greeting speech at the Yeongdeungpo District Disabled Sports Competition held in April. Provided by Yeongdeungpo District Office.

Dedicated Shelter for the Visually Impaired and Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities

In the areas of welfare and education, the district continues to implement policies tailored to people with disabilities. In November 2023, the district opened a "dedicated shelter for the visually impaired" in Mullae-dong, recognizing that people with visual impairments often face difficulties using general welfare facilities. Visually impaired residents make up about 10% of all registered people with disabilities in Yeongdeungpo District.

With the opening of this space, related programs have also increased. The shelter now offers a wide range of education, including a Go class and yoga class exclusively for the visually impaired, as well as Braille education, mobility training, and voice smartphone usage classes for those who have become visually impaired later in life. The facility also provides job skill improvement training for those with massage certifications.

The Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities, located within the Aullim Center in Dangsan-dong, is also popular. The Aullim Center, which opened in February last year, is a seven-story building with the Disability Family Support Center on the fourth floor and the Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities on the fifth to seventh floors.

The Disability Family Support Center provides a space for families caring for people with disabilities to receive counseling or take a break. The Lifelong Education Center for People with Developmental Disabilities, inspired by Mayor Choi's background as a former head of the Exhibition and Research Division at the National Gwacheon Science Museum, is equipped with advanced science and technology-based facilities and programs.

The center's psychological stability room offers cognitive therapy systems imported from Germany, and smart devices are used to help calm people with developmental disabilities who experience challenging behaviors such as self-harm, destructive actions, or loud vocalizations.

Yeongdeungpo District also operates the Dream Plus Support Center and Dream Plus School. The Dream Plus Support Center, which opened 12 years ago, was the first support center in Seoul dedicated to people with developmental disabilities, providing training to help those aged 8 to 24 become more independent.

The Dream Plus School is a district-run alternative educational institution for adolescents with developmental disabilities. Students study core subjects such as Korean, English, and mathematics, while also participating in career and specialized courses, creative activities, and after-school programs. In fact, last year, four graduates succeeded in finding employment or advancing their studies, including joining the Com2uS With Orchestra, the musical theater group Lahaf, and enrolling in university.

The second annual "Yeongdeungpo-gu Local Attractions Harmony Sports Festival" was held on the 4th at Yeouido Park Cultural Square. Provided by Yeongdeungpo-gu.

Shelter for People with Physical Disabilities to Open Next April

Recognized for these efforts, Yeongdeungpo District has been selected for three consecutive years as a lifelong learning city for people with disabilities by the National Institute of Special Education under the Ministry of Education. Using the national funding secured through this program, the district operates 49 programs tailored to different types and needs of disabilities, such as baking and digital drawing, at welfare centers, libraries, lifelong learning centers, and community centers that are easily accessible to people with disabilities.

In April next year, the district will also open a shelter for people with physical disabilities, in response to the shortage of dedicated spaces for this group. The district has also created 172 jobs for people with disabilities, including hiring people with developmental disabilities as contract workers at public institutions, employing forest experts, environmental campaigners for climate crisis awareness, and Jang-Jang Care workers (people with disabilities supporting other people with disabilities) who assist with administrative tasks such as welfare checks.

Since last month, in response to requests from people with disabilities who cannot have meals on weekends, the district has expanded its meal support at the House of Love and Sharing for the Disabled, which was previously only available on weekdays, to provide side dishes that can be eaten on weekends.

Mayor Choi said, "We are strengthening our policies to support people with disabilities, such as giving them priority allocation in residential parking zones. We will continue to build a city where everyone can exercise and learn together in their daily lives."

Choi Hogwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, participating in the Sports Festival of the House of Love and Sharing for the Disabled. Provided by Yeongdeungpo District Office.