Gimcheon Mayoral Candidate Bae Nakho Proposes Creation of "Open Tourism City"

Inclusive Barrier-Free Tourism Environment
for People with Disabilities, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women

Bae Nakho, a preliminary candidate for Gimcheon mayor, proposed on April 20, in commemoration of the 46th Day of Persons with Disabilities, a plan to create an "open tourism city" where people with disabilities can use not only tourist facilities but also all aspects of daily life without inconvenience.

Bae stated, "When people with disabilities use public institutions, there are generally enough convenience facilities, so mobility is not a major issue. However, access to tourist facilities remains challenging," adding, "I will continue to expand barrier-free facilities so that Gimcheon's major tourist attractions are easily accessible to everyone."

Bae emphasized that the core of this policy proposal is to "establish a barrier-free tourism environment," envisioning the right to mobility as extending beyond the realm of transportation to include tourism and leisure. He aims to institutionalize the expansion of infrastructure through ordinance legislation, with the goal of creating "Open Tourism City Gimcheon," which encompasses people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and other mobility-vulnerable groups.

Specifically, the plan includes: ▲ improving walkways and installing ramps at major tourist sites ▲ expanding convenience facilities such as restrooms and parking spaces for people with disabilities ▲ introducing Braille information boards and audio guidance systems ▲ and gradually strengthening connections to accessible transportation options for tourist destinations.

Bae explained that the focus will not be solely on increasing facilities, but on building a "perceptible barrier-free environment" that genuinely improves ease of use for all.

Bae Nakho, a preliminary candidate for mayor of Gimcheon, is greeting citizens.
[Photo by Bae Nakho's campaign team]

He also plans to improve tourism content in parallel with expanding barrier-free tourism infrastructure.

The plan includes developing customized tourism courses for each type of disability, establishing cooperative systems with local tourism businesses and welfare organizations, and expanding tourism programs that are accessible to everyone. Through these efforts, Bae aims to enhance both the accessibility and diversity of tourism in Gimcheon.

Bae stressed, "Welfare is not a choice but a right, and freedom of movement is a basic right that all citizens should enjoy," adding, "Guaranteeing people with disabilities the right to move and access facilities directly enhances the dignity of the city."

He further stated, "Creating an environment where people with disabilities can move freely and enjoy tourism not only provides convenience but also transforms quality of life," and pledged, "I will make Gimcheon a barrier-free tourism city open to everyone."

This policy proposal is aimed at expanding the right to mobility for people with disabilities into the realms of tourism and leisure, and sets the direction for making Gimcheon an open tourism city accessible to all.

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