"The Right of People with Disabilities to Enjoy Sports Equally"

Kim Jeongrim of Andong City Council Urges Creation of Park Golf Course Exclusively for People with Disabilities

On May 20, Kim Jeongrim, a member of the Andong City Council in North Gyeongsang Province, emphasized the urgent need to establish a park golf course exclusively for people with disabilities during a five-minute free speech at the 258th temporary session, and urged Andong City to actively expand sports infrastructure for people with disabilities.

Currently, Andong City operates park golf courses with a total of 81 holes, but there are no facilities dedicated to people with disabilities. Kim stated, "It is essential to provide dedicated sports facilities so that people with disabilities can enjoy emotional stability and social interaction through sports."

The number of park golf courses nationwide increased from 158 in 2017 to 361 in 2023, more than doubling, and the number of park golf clubs for people with disabilities also rose from 88 in 2018 to 136, indicating a sharp rise in demand for sports facilities for people with disabilities. However, Andong City still lacks sufficient facilities compared to its approximately 14,000 registered residents with disabilities.

Kim proposed, "Let us create a sports festival where people with and without disabilities can come together by establishing a park golf course exclusively for people with disabilities, attracting national tournaments, and developing an Andong-style model for operating sports facilities for people with disabilities." Kim added, "This will also contribute to social integration and the revitalization of the local economy."

Kim further stated, "Sports for people with disabilities goes beyond simple welfare and is the starting point for building an inclusive local community," and called for the administration's active attention and action so that Andong City can become a 'barrier-free city.'

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