Incheon City Conducts Full Survey of Unregistered Disabled Facilities... Establishes Public-Private Joint Fact-Finding Team

Incheon City announced on the 21st that it will conduct a full survey of unregistered facilities for the disabled in the region following a case of abuse of disabled persons that occurred in an unregistered religious facility in Bupyeong-gu last August. The full survey will continue until next month, focusing on previously identified unregistered or suspicious facilities.

Earlier, since last month, the city has been conducting a full survey targeting households receiving disability activity support services or disability livelihood benefits (such as disability pensions and disability allowances) where two or more people live at the same address but are not members of the same guaranteed household (family, etc.). The Ministry of Health and Welfare mandated a full survey of households with five or more members at the same address among basic livelihood recipients, but Incheon City has significantly strengthened the criteria for the full survey to ensure a more thorough investigation.

During the full survey, the city plans to form a joint public-private fact-finding team with district offices and disability rights advocacy organizations to conduct on-site inspections of suspicious facilities and investigate the status of unregistered facilities for the disabled.

Additionally, an emergency response system will be established to prevent abuse in unregistered facilities for the disabled and to provide prompt protection. In cases where signs of abuse are detected in unregistered facilities and urgent protection is needed, temporary shelter will be provided for swift emergency measures, and a joint public-private fact-finding team and emergency response system will be set up to coordinate abuse investigations and connections with medical institutions.

Press conference on the 'Unreported Facility Disability Abuse Case' held last September
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The city also plans to conduct biannual education on unregistered facilities for the disabled for urban gas meter readers (safety inspectors), disability activity supporters, and community security councils in eup, myeon, and dong areas to establish a continuous monitoring system for unregistered facilities for the disabled in welfare blind spots.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Through the management plan for unregistered facilities for the disabled, we will eradicate illegal activities to protect the human rights and safety of disabled persons and secure the public nature of disability welfare facilities."

Earlier, in August, at an unregistered religious facility in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, signs of abuse against disabled persons surfaced, leading to the facility manager being booked by the police on charges including violation of the Disabled Welfare Act.

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