Yongin Indoor Gym Hosts 46th Disability Day Commemoration
Yongin Special City announced that it held the 46th Disability Day commemoration at the Yongin Indoor Gym at 2 p.m. on the 7th.
Under the theme “Ordinary Life — Accessible to All,” the event was hosted by Yongin Special City and organized by the Yongin branch of the Gyeonggi Physical Disability Welfare Association.
Mayor Lee Sang-il joined residents with disabilities, their families, and other community members to reflect on the significance of Disability Day and to pledge participation in efforts to remove barriers between people with and without disabilities.
Mayor Lee said, “Volunteers from across the community have come together to mark Disability Day. I hope today’s program helps correct misconceptions about disability, prompts personal reflection, and serves as an opportunity to dismantle the walls between people with and without disabilities. If we pool our strength and wisdom — by understanding, supporting, and standing together — we can build a city that works for everyone.”
He added, “Anyone who is not disabled can become disabled at any time. We still have much to do. Saying we support people with disabilities is not enough — we must show it through action. No one can deny the city’s efforts to put this into practice.” He emphasized that moving forward together and acting in concert creates hope.
The mayor expressed regret that the city council rejected the public-property plan to build the Bandabi Gym, a sports facility designed for people with disabilities, and said the city must press ahead with that necessary project.
The ceremony opened with a prelude by the Kum Orchestra, and Mayor Lee presented commendations to 20 individuals recognized for their contributions to improving welfare for people with disabilities.
The Ground Operations Command military band delivered a grand, dignified performance, followed by a set from popular singer Park Gun that entertained attendees. Performers also included Sunny, Morgan, GBL Belly Dance, and the group Sparrow & Gyeongi.
Food trucks and a variety of interactive booths around the Yongin Indoor Gym added energy to the event.
Yongin City has consistently supported diverse programs and developed careful policies to promote the rights and welfare of people with disabilities.
At a 2024 meeting with special school principals and parents, Mayor Lee responded to requests from parents of middle school students with developmental disabilities by proposing that public facilities with swimming pools include family restrooms, changing rooms, and showers.
Accordingly, the city installed family restrooms, changing rooms, and showers at the Giheung National Sports Center pool, which opened last July, and at the Dongbaek Mir Human Center pool, which opened on April 2 of this year.
The city also funded construction of access routes and installed pickup-and-drop-off zones to improve commuting conditions for Yongin Daum School, a special school for students with disabilities. In June 2024, it opened Gyeonggi Province’s only Virtual Reality Sports Experience Center to help improve the physical fitness of people with disabilities and students with disabilities.
In June of last year, Yongin became the first city in the country to launch a priority refueling service at self-service gas stations for people with disabilities, seniors, and other mobility-impaired residents. For that initiative, it won the top local government award in the 2025 competition for new service development for people with disabilities and received a citation from the Minister of Health and Welfare.
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