April 20, 2011 was one of the most important days in the Korean calendar. It marked the annual national day for people with disabilities. Only recently did the Korean national government recognized disabled people as regular citizens. Before, these people were given less rights and strict policies were enforced upon these unfortunate people.
In 1981 the United Nations proposed that every member country create a special national day for those with disabilities. However, the national day in Korea was enforced ten years after the proposition, in 1991. Originally, the national association of disabilities voted December 3 as date for the national disability day. Unfortunately, the Korean national government forcibly changed the date to April 20 after some conflicts. Therefore, many disabilities in Korea believe quietly in their hearts that the true national day is December 3, not April 20.
However, this does not mean that all Koreans are unhappy about the national day for disabilities. Instead, many citizens, both with and without disabilities still celebrate the day with vigor. One great example this year was when the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), the largest broadcasting company in Korea, decided to hire a great number of reporters with disabilities. They will be part of a special squad newly created this year to accommodate workers with disabilities. They will be specially trained and, within a year, will be just as successful as regular reporters.
Another remarkable event was when a father, who is active in Christian activities in Korea, and his son, who has a developmental disability, walked a 40-day, 600-km walk from March 12 to March 20. They walked 15 km a day to raise awareness about the plight of disabled Korean citizens from the Southern city port of Busan to the capital in the North, Seoul.
April 20 is an important day in Korea for disabilities and normal people because it represents our acknowledgement of disabilities as normal human beings rather than lowly creatures.
