President Lee: "Disability Rights Guarantee Act, the First Step Toward Ensuring Rights, Not Charity"

Approved at Cabinet Meeting

"Disability Is Not an Individual Problem, but a Challenge for Society to Address Together"

President Lee Jaemyung stated at a Cabinet meeting regarding the passage of the Disability Rights Protection Act, "This law clearly declares that disability is not an individual's problem, but a challenge that our society must address together."

Yonhap News Agency

On May 20, President Lee wrote on Facebook, "It took such a long time," adding, "For more than ten years, people with disabilities, their families, and activists have raised their voices, but the Disability Rights Protection Act was repeatedly blocked at the threshold of the National Assembly. Today, it was finally approved at the Cabinet meeting."

President Lee described the significance of the Disability Rights Protection Act as "a new paradigm that recognizes people with disabilities not as beneficiaries of welfare programs, but as subjects of rights." He explained, "Reflecting international currents such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the changed policy environment, we are now approaching policies on disabilities from a rights-based perspective, rather than from a standpoint of benevolence."

In particular, President Lee emphasized that this law defines disability not merely as an individual's physical or mental issue, but as a condition arising from social barriers and structural constraints. He reiterated, "The law clearly declares that disability is not an individual's problem, but a challenge that our society must address together."

President Lee also mentioned his own experience with disability. He said, "I too became disabled as a child due to an unexpected accident," and added, "I know better than anyone how even a small difference can become a high barrier in many areas of life."

He continued, "Being able to go where you want, learn what you want, and work where you wish—things that are taken for granted by non-disabled people—should never require a significant resolve for people with disabilities."

President Lee stated that with the enactment of this law, substantive rights protection for people with disabilities must be realized in all aspects of daily life. He said, "Through the enactment of this law, I hope that people with disabilities will be able to enjoy a life equal to that of non-disabled people in every aspect of daily living, including the freedom to choose a profession, access to culture and education, and participation in judicial procedures."

He also identified the transformation of residential facilities for people with disabilities as a key task. President Lee said, "By making residential facilities smaller in scale and more specialized, we will create a foundation for people with disabilities to choose their own way of life and live together with family, neighbors, and within their local communities."

President Lee underscored the importance of the implementation process following the passage of the bill. He said, "Enacting the law is not the end, but the starting point," and added, "We will prepare the implementation process with great care so that people with disabilities can truly feel concrete changes in their lives." He further stated, "We are finally taking the first step toward a world where invisible barriers are broken down and everyone can live without restrictions or discrimination."

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