Human rights commission in Korea says disabled foreigners deserve benefits

From Korea Times in South Korea Sept. 17:

The National Human Rights Commission said the government should change regulations so that disabled foreigners in Korea can be eligible for various benefits granted to disabled Koreans.

Its petition, filed with the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, came following a complaint lodged with the commission in October by a 37-year-old Taiwanese national living here.

In the letter, the Taiwanese person said, "Disabled foreign nationals in Korean cannot receive a variety of favors only because they don't have Korean citizenship. It's unfair and discriminates against foreign nationals here.''

As the foreigner claimed, disabled non-Koreans cannot have themselves registered on the list of disabled people here, while, ironically, crippled ethnic Koreans here have enjoyed various advantages granted to local disabled people including the rights to use parking lots reserved for the disabled. Disabled Koreans can also buy cars at discount prices.

"Welfare programs especially for the disabled should be equally applied to all disabled people living in Korea regardless of their nationality,'' the commission said in a statement.