"Barrier-Free Playgrounds" Only 0.037% Nationwide, Choi Boyoon Proposes "Three Laws to Support Children with Disabilities"

High Risk of Abuse for Children with Disabilities
Severe Restrictions on Access to Play Facilities
"All Children Must Be Free from Discrimination"

On May 2, Choi Boyoon, a member of the People Power Party, introduced the "Three Laws to Support Children with Disabilities" to improve the quality of life for children with disabilities in anticipation of the upcoming Children's Day.

Choi explained the background for proposing the bills, stating, "Children with disabilities are at a higher risk of abuse due to the dual characteristics of being both children and disabled. They also continue to face significant restrictions in accessing play facilities and rehabilitation services compared to non-disabled children."

The photo is not related to the article. Asia Economy DB

According to the 2023 Report on the Status of Abuse of Persons with Disabilities, approximately 18.5% of all victims of abuse with disabilities were children with disabilities under the age of 18. Children with disabilities also have limited access to play facilities. Of the 82,000 playgrounds registered nationwide with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, only 31 (about 0.037%) are barrier-free and accessible to children with disabilities. For children with developmental delays, rehabilitation therapy using play, art, and music is essential. However, because such therapies are excluded from indemnity insurance coverage, families must bear the full cost of treatment, which ranges from 50,000 to 100,000 won per session.

Reflecting these domestic realities, Choi introduced three bills aimed at implementing practical system improvements for children with disabilities. These include: a partial amendment to the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act to strengthen the prevention of and support for abuse of children with disabilities; an amendment to the Child Welfare Act to reinforce the protection system for children with disabilities; and an amendment to the Act on the Safety Management of Children's Play Facilities to guarantee the right to play for children with disabilities. The proposed bills include provisions such as the mandatory establishment of customized protection plans that reflect the specific characteristics of disabilities, mandatory inclusion of opinions from institutions advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, the introduction of a national certification system for developmental rehabilitation therapists to systematize early intervention expertise for children with developmental delays, and assigning responsibility to the state and local governments to create play environments for children with disabilities.

Kyo Yoon Choi, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Choi stated, "Just as the proverb says it takes a whole village to raise a child, children with disabilities are precious members of our society whom we must all embrace and support as we build the future together." She added, "I hope these bills will be passed swiftly so that Korea can become a society where all children, regardless of disability, can grow up safely and freely, without discrimination."

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