National Human Rights Commission of Korea Annual Report 2019
C. Disability-Based Discrimination
A person with development disabilities asked to be accompanied by a same-sex
caregiver in order to use swimming pool
On July 5, the Commission recommended the director of a sports center to allow persons
with disabilities to use the swimming pool even when they are not accompanied by a same-sex
caregiver, unless there are special reasons not to do so. It also recommended the mayor and the
facilities and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Part 2
director of the Facilities Management Corporation in the county to increase oversight of sports
The victim (male, 29 years old at the time) who has developmental disabilities wanted to use the
mother, who petitioned the case, access to the pool, stating that admission is not possible unless he
is accompanied by a same-sex caregiver.
The Commission concluded that it is a discrimination based on disabilities to demand a person
with disabilities to be accompanied by a same-sex caregiver in order to use the pool and to restrict
its use otherwise, by reason of safety risks and shortage of personnel, and without considering
the specific, individual characteristics of the user’s disabilities, and without providing separate
guidelines or notification in advance.
The county mayor accepted the recommendations and replied that actions would be taken so
that persons with disabilities can use a swimming pool without discrimination. It would also
increase oversight of other sports facilities in the jurisdiction so that there are no discrimination
based on disabilities in the future.
A person with epilepsy asked to submit a doctor’s note and be accompanied by a
caregiver in order to take part in sports activities
On August 7, the Commission recommended the director of an education center to stop
demanding persons with disabilities to submit a doctor’s note and be accompanied by a caregiver
in order to participate in sports activity programs. It also recommended modification to the
discriminatory provisions in the Terms of Service, which were cause of such discrimination, and to
properly educate the staff.
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Key Activities
swimming pool during a free swim session at the sports center. The ticket staff denied him and his