Establish Deinstitutionalization System to Prevent 'Dogani' and 'Saekdongwon' Incidents

The Hankyoreh, in its editorial, forcefully argues for the urgent establishment of a comprehensive deinstitutionalization system for disabled individuals in South Korea. The editorial frames the upcoming 'Day for the Eradication of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities' not as a day of pity, but as a call for the realization of fundamental rights to equality and human dignity. The stark reality, as highlighted by the editorial, is that despite 25 years of activism and a government roadmap, the progress in deinstitutionalization has been painfully slow.

The editorial criticizes the government's pilot programs, citing figures that show a minuscule fraction of institutionalized disabled individuals participating. This sluggish pace is juxtaposed with recurring human rights violations within residential facilities, exemplified by the recent 'Incheon Dungeon' case involving sexual abuse. The government's proposed solution of simply transferring victims to other facilities is rightly condemned as a 'facility merry-go-round,' failing to address the root cause of the problem.

Drawing on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the global shift towards community-based living, the Hankyoreh emphasizes that the current system is failing. The editorial points to the deep-seated distrust among disabled individuals and their families regarding the government's support measures, which are perceived as inadequate for independent living. The publication calls for a significant expansion of dedicated personnel and personal assistance services, urging the government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to enabling disabled individuals to live freely and with dignity in the community, rather than in forced collective living situations.