Kim Dong-yeon Meets Artists with Developmental Disabilities, Promises Three Initiatives Including Exhibition Opening

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, promised to promote the holding of an art exhibition at an appropriate time after meeting with outsider artists with developmental disabilities. He also emphasized that he would actively consider strengthening support measures for artists with developmental disabilities by purchasing their works as gifts during overseas business trips and other occasions.

On the 1st, ahead of the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ on the 3rd, Governor Kim visited the ‘Amazing Outsider Art Center’ located in Yangpyeong County and spent time communicating with 11 ‘outsider’ artists engaged in artistic activities.

The Amazing Outsider Art Center is a space where 11 artists with developmental disabilities, including Jung Eun-hye, famous for her role in the drama ‘Our Blues,’ Kim Na-yeon, Park Jong-seon, Park Ji-seon, Seon Na-yeon, Yoon Tae-young, Lee Chan-woo, Jang Jin-young, Jung Yeon-jae, Pi Joo-heon, and Lim Woo-jin, gather to create and exhibit their works.

Outsider Art refers to works created by individuals who have not received formal art education. All the artists residing at the art center are adults without formal art education.

Governor Kim said, "My dream is to create a world where we live together with all of you. I have a firm belief that everyone must be respected for the sustainability of our society." He added, "Whether others know it or not, when I served and contributed to society, my initial thoughts were out of obligation or normativity, but as I continued, I realized how much it matured me and how much it made our society sustainable, and I sincerely believe in this."

He continued, "This week is Disability Awareness Week. And on Tuesday, Korea’s first provincial orchestra for persons with disabilities will be established," making three spontaneous promises.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is taking a commemorative photo with disabled art workers at the Amazing Outsider Art Center in Yangpyeong-gun on the afternoon of the 1st. Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

He said, "First, we will hold a separate exhibition in Gyeonggi Province at the best possible time. Second, some of the gifts given to foreign guests or people I meet overseas will be purchased artworks by persons with developmental disabilities. Third, we will find ways to support the operation of centers like this." He emphasized, "In disability policy, Gyeonggi Province will take the lead and do its best to ensure sustainability, not charity."

The artists also expressed their welcome for Governor Kim’s visit, and Jung Eun-hye, the artist of ‘Your Face,’ surprised him with a painting of his face as a gift. Governor Kim expressed his gratitude, saying, "This is the best gift I have ever received."

In May 2022, when he was a candidate for governor of Gyeonggi Province, and again in June after his election, Kim visited the Gyeonggi Province memorial altar for persons with developmental and severe disabilities at Suwon Station twice, promising to prepare measures to prevent tragic incidents such as the extreme choices made by families of persons with developmental disabilities from recurring.

Since then, the 8th Gyeonggi Province administration has been implementing innovative and practical policies for persons with disabilities, such as the Disability Enjoyment Account, Disability Opportunity Income, and the operation of an AI creative group for persons with developmental disabilities.

It is also known that Governor Kim actively uses artworks by persons with developmental disabilities by purchasing them to hang in his office and utilizing them during overseas business trips. Whenever he meets politicians or famous foreign businesspeople, he gifts artworks by persons with developmental disabilities and explains the meaning of the works and the artists, receiving very positive responses.

In fact, during his visit to the United States last May, Governor Kim gifted a painting by a developmental disability artist (a red-crowned crane) to Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington State.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province plans to invest 2.9215 trillion won over the next five years according to this year’s basic plan for disability policy.

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