Mental Disability Group Files Human Rights Complaint Against People's Power Party's First-Term Lawmaker for 'Collective Schizophrenia' Remarks

National Human Rights Commission of Korea building. Photo by Human Rights Commission

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Organizations related to mental disabilities have filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party who stated that they "suspect collective schizophrenia."

The Korea Association of Families of People with Mental Disabilities and the Korea Association of People with Mental Disabilities submitted a petition to the Human Rights Commission on the 4th, condemning, "Their awareness of human rights is utterly dismal as they mentioned specific mental illnesses solely as a tool to criticize political opponents," and requested recommendations for related measures.

Earlier, on the 1st, the first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party held a press conference at the National Assembly regarding suspicions about the 'North Korean nuclear power plant project' and stated toward the Democratic Party, "If they do not take the people lightly, one might suspect collective schizophrenia."

Upon learning of this, organizations related to mental disabilities issued a statement saying, "It can only be seen as having a clear intention to hate or belittle the illness or disability and using insulting language," and criticized, "While the political sphere should be focusing on improving treatment environments, welfare enhancement, and rights promotion for the affected individuals, it is heartbreaking that such insulting remarks are maliciously repeated by members of the National Assembly."

They added, "The insulting remarks made by these 31 first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party constitute a serious incident infringing on the human rights of people with schizophrenia and the fundamental rights of people with mental disabilities," and warned, "We will neither overlook nor tolerate acts that multiply the suffering of the affected individuals and their families through unjust human rights violations, defamation, and insulting remarks."

This kind of controversy in the political sphere is not the first. Last year, the Human Rights Commission accepted a complaint regarding former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan's remark that "people with congenital disabilities have weak will," recommending that party officials receive human rights education for people with disabilities. Also, in December last year, a similar decision was made regarding People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young's expression "lame prime minister."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.