<기사제목>'White Cane Safety Day' Seoul Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Welfare Conference Held... Guaranteeing Rights of Visually Impaired

Gathering to Enjoy Autumn with Various Events Including Ceremony, Singing Contest, and White Cane Presentation
Seoul Mayor's Commendation Awarded to 10 Citizens Contributing to Rehabilitation and Rights Improvement of the Visually Impaired

Seoul City Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 5th, to mark the 43rd White Cane Safety Day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 4th that the Seoul Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Welfare Competition in celebration of White Cane Safety Day will be held at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Student Gymnasium (Jamsil Student Gymnasium).

The white cane is an assistive device used by visually impaired people for mobility, symbolizing independence and achievement rather than pity or incapacity. The white cane is distinguished from canes used by people with physical disabilities or the elderly.

This year's event is a gathering of visually impaired people to enjoy and communicate together for the first time in three years since COVID-19. The visually impaired rehabilitation welfare competition, held every October, had only a minimal number of attendees for the ceremony since 2020 to comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines. This year, about 2,200 people including visually impaired individuals, related organizations, awardees, and activity supporters are expected to attend.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government holds the visually impaired rehabilitation welfare competition annually in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Association of the Visually Impaired to expand cultural and sports opportunities for the visually impaired, improve awareness, and promote social integration, commemorating White Cane Safety Day every year.

At the ceremony, the White Cane Safety Day charter will be read, and a white cane presentation ceremony will take place. The Mayor of Seoul is scheduled to award commendations to 10 citizens who have contributed to improving the mobility rights, independence support, and welfare enhancement of visually impaired people.

On the day of the ceremony, the final round of the visually impaired singing contest will also be held. Twelve finalists selected through preliminary rounds will compete, and four winners will be chosen by the judges.

During this ceremony, a white cane presentation ceremony sponsored by the International Lions Club District 354-D will also be held, delivering about 1,000 white canes to visually impaired participants.

Meanwhile, as part of this event, a sports event was held on the 29th at Yeouido Hangang Park, south end of Mapo Bridge. About 230 people, including 170 visually impaired participants who applied and their activity supporters, participated in seven games such as Yutnori, simplified bowling, and pedometer games.

Ko Gwang-hyun, Director of the Disability Welfare Policy Division, said, “The White Cane Safety Day Rehabilitation Welfare Competition is the biggest festival for visually impaired people. I hope it will be a precious time for visually impaired individuals who have faced many difficulties due to COVID-19 to enjoy together.” He added, “We will continue to strive to make Seoul a city where visually impaired people can live more safely and conveniently.”

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