Lee Yong-hoon, former chairman of the Special Olympics Korea (SOK), was at the office of “In Times Inn,” a global education company in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul, on Tuesday. It was two days before the end of his four-year term, in which he left aside his main job and cried and laughed. SOK is a non-profit organization that supports sports and cultural arts activities for people with developmental disabilities.
Time flew by like an arrow. Early this month, Lee received a special gift at a farewell party with family members of the SOK secretariat. The video is a compressed version of his track record. He was able to recall the past by looking back on it several times.
He said in a plain tone, “I feel calm and calm,” but he seemed to have difficulty controlling the overwhelming emotions that naturally arose from his four-year rewarding journey. “I gave my utmost commitment to SOK. I put everything aside and worked with all my heart. I put my heart and soul into it. Honestly, I didn’t know if this was the right expression, but I was very happy,” Lee said.
Of course, she is not entirely regrettable. She has been to all competitions for four years since her inauguration to practice the concept of “with” that she emphasized throughout her term, and said, “I am sorry that I have not been able to provide more joy and provide a venue for more people to participate.”
I listened to “With SOK” and four years of thoughts on Chairman Lee, who officially retired on the 7th after handing over his seat to former lawmaker Jung Yang-seok, who was elected as the 5th SOK chairman with the support of a majority of the delegates at the end of last month.
-It has greatly contributed to expanding the base of sports for people with developmental disabilities. What was the most rewarding activity during his term in office? “I think it is K-League integrated soccer. Soccer is the most preferred sport for people with developmental disabilities. He paid attention to this. Through the cooperation of the Korean Professional Football Federation, we were able to plant the perception in society that people with developmental disabilities can play soccer by forming a K-League integrated soccer team and holding competitions. When it first started, there were eight teams, but 13 teams were founded this year. This provided an opportunity for professional soccer teams to expand their programs for people with developmental disabilities in the community.”
Integrated soccer, in which disabled and non-disabled people participate as a team with equal members, has been fully established, and the Special Olympics International Headquarters is also paying attention to it as a success story. Using integrated soccer as a representative model, it has created a basic soil that can spread to other sports such as basketball and volleyball.
- It was also impressive that athletes with developmental disabilities could receive medical services. “In consultation with leading medical institutions in the community, we have laid the groundwork for sportspeople with developmental disabilities to receive adequate medical services as well as their families. Nevertheless, rather than feeling rewarded for each project, these projects expanded opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to participate in society, and I think it was meaningful for non-disabled people to use their talents and abilities to share the foundation with everyone.”
-When I first took office in 2020, my social perception changed significantly. “As soon as I took office as chairman, a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) broke out all over the world. All sectors of society contracted. Of course, the Special Olympics was also hit hard. Most of all, many opportunities for people with developmental disabilities were lost. Various events, including international competitions, disappeared. It was a time when safety was more important than immediate social participation. However, it could not be stopped. It created new and diverse opportunities. It developed an online program and organized various events in which celebrities participated. As a result, efforts were rewarded. Even during the COVID-19 era, the Special Olympics Taekwondo Committee was established to promote Taekwondo on the national flag, and a handball team was formed to participate in the competition. All these efforts led to the voluntary participation of people with developmental disabilities.”
-What is the most valuable value of the Special Olympics? “There are many services provided to people with developmental disabilities. In addition to general education, they include music, art, physical education, language and psychotherapy, and play. Sports can also be added to this. Personally, physical education is considered a field of ‘changing body and mind through movement’. For people with developmental disabilities, sports can be said to be the easiest process to learn what is necessary for social life.”
Former chairman Lee mentioned the socialization process. It means that the challenging spirit and confidence learned through various sports activities can lead to active advancement into society. It is believed that anyone can challenge themselves and that if they make efforts, everyone can enjoy the opportunity to achieve equally.
-He always emphasized “with.” What did you focus on the most during your term in office? “When dealing with disabled people, we usually think about ‘what to do for them’.” On the other hand, “with” means to be with them naturally. I also treated them as a colleague, not as a group president. Last year alone, I participated in more than 50 special Olympics events. I ran, ate and slept with athletes with developmental disabilities for as little as three days or as long as one month. That was the promise I made. I tried to treat them as members of the same society, not as special.”
-What is needed for 230,000 people with developmental disabilities in Korea to establish themselves as members of society? “I hope that an environment will be created in which people with developmental disabilities can maximize their abilities and develop them. For example, I hope that those who have buildings will have the courage to give up a space for people with developmental disabilities, and that those who have talent will also have the material and mental leeway to share their talents together. Nevertheless, there is a desperate need for a change of perception.” 먹튀검증
The U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted at the U.N. General Assembly in December 2006, stipulates that disability is not a personal condition but a social environment, perception and attitude, and structural barriers to dealing with the disabled and the disabled. After all, disability is not a physical phenomenon but a prejudice that stems from perception. Lee desperately wanted to break down prejudice until the end of his term in office.