Human Rights Commission: "Measures Needed to Ensure Mobility Rights for People with Disabilities During Apartment Elevator Construction"

Recommendations for Protecting Mobility-Impaired Individuals
Alternative Transportation and Daily Support During Elevator Replacement

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a decision stating that measures must be put in place to minimize inconvenience for people with disabilities and other mobility-impaired individuals when elevator use is restricted due to the replacement of aging elevators.

National Human Rights Commission Gwangju Human Rights Office.

According to the National Human Rights Commission Gwangju Human Rights Office on January 5, the Commission recommended that necessary measures be established in cooperation with local governments in connection with a disability discrimination complaint filed by Mr. A, a person with a first-degree physical disability, against the head of the apartment residents' association and the apartment management office director.

Mr. A, who lives on the 11th floor of the apartment and uses a wheelchair due to a first-degree physical disability, was traveling to the hospital more than five times a week for physical therapy. However, the apartment management office restricted elevator use for a certain period due to the replacement of the aging elevator system. When Mr. A requested alternative means of transportation and the request was not met, he filed a complaint.

The Commission stated that while it is difficult to conclude that restricting elevator use constitutes direct discrimination against people with mobility impairments, such restrictions do result in discriminatory outcomes for people with disabilities and the elderly who are effectively unable to use stairs. The Commission further emphasized that the schedule for elevator-related construction should be discussed and adjusted in advance to minimize harm to people with mobility challenges. It also recommended forming volunteer groups in collaboration with local governments and communities to provide practical support systems for daily life, such as delivering groceries, checking on health conditions, and responding to emergencies.