[Hang on] Lee Jong-sung, chairman of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled, said, "I will try to keep the mandatory employment rate for the disabled."

■ Broadcast: YTN Radio FM 94.5 (20:20-21:00)
■ Date: September 29, 2024 (Sunday)
■ Proceedings: Professor Lee Seong-gyu
■ Talk: Lee Jong-sung, Chairman of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: When you write human in Chinese characters, human. a person's liver It's between people. It would be understanding and consideration to narrow the distance between people who have different thoughts and live different lives. There's no one like this. Today's protagonist will talk with Lee Jong-sung, chairman of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled, who strives to connect, integrate, and hire the disabled and the non-disabled. Nice to meet you, Chairman.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. Hello?

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: You were here once in April 2020.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. I remember that.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: At that time, he had just entered as the 21st member of the National Assembly. It's been 4 years.

◇ [Lee Jong-sung] I know. I thought you'd call me in the meantime...! I'm sad that you didn't call me.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: You've been in charge of that a while ago. While you were a member of the National Assembly, you were the head of a government-affiliated organization. How does that feel?

◇ First of all, I'm really thankful that you guys congratulated me. In particular, thanks to the support of many people over the past four years, I should first thank them for completing their parliamentary activities safely. As you said, the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled is an important position that is nationally responsible for hiring the disabled. So, more than a politician. In a way, my shoulders are heavy, and I'm determined to do my best in that role because I receive a specific role. So, I will do my part to repay the support from the people. I understand that our host also served as the 13th chairman of the board. He's a senior.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: It's also his home.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: A lot of maps. I'll also ask for your advice.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: I haven't called you a lot for 4 years, so I'll try to create an opportunity to tell the public a lot about the employment corporation. the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled Many of you know, but what kind of work you do once. Please summarize it.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. It's called the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled. It is a quasi-governmental public institution under the Ministry of Employment and Labor. It is literally a specialized institution that implements government policies related to the employment of the disabled. It was established in September 1990 and has celebrated its 34th year this year. The main task of our industrial complex is to play the role of a disabled employment partner who creates a society where people with disabilities work together so that they can live a human life through professional life. Throughout the entire employment process, the disabled are provided with services ranging from vocational competency assessment to vocational training, employment, and follow-up management. In addition, we provide institutional support to companies to hire people with disabilities.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. Originally, he worked at the Association for the Disabled and even served as the Secretary-General. He went to the National Assembly and worked as a legislator. You were appointed as the chairman of the Korea Employment Service by the Health and Welfare Committee. I think there was another opportunity to look back on the path that human Lee Jong-sung has lived.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. That's right. In particular, the relationship between me and the Employment Corporation for the Disabled has a unique aspect to me. I graduated from college more than 30 years ago, and I couldn't get a job. When you're not doing well. Through the employment placement program of the Employment Agency for the Disabled, I formed a relationship with the Korea Association for the Disabled.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Did you?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: So the Association of Persons with Disabilities. It is an industrial complex that has established such a connection to work in a disabled organization. Working for the Disabled Association, I've done a lot of things about the disabled. Such experience. career. Based on those things, I also head the department of culture and sports for the disabled at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In addition, I think I was there today because our corporation provided the basis for such experience and experience, from a member of the National Assembly to the chairman of the board. That's how much I have a special affection for the industrial complex. Looking back, over the past 34 years, the industrial complex has given many people with disabilities. Our seniors and fellow employees have provided a lot of services. Isn't it possible to think that it has created a turning point in life that can change the lives of many people? I'm sure there are a lot of people who are in the same situation as me. In that sense, I think our industrial complex can take that much pride and pride. Through this calling, we are determined to repay the disabled with a role that creates hope and future.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes, you're in a wheelchair right now. Were you in a wheelchair before? Even when you were young?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: I fell down while using crutches. Now, my rotator cuff is broken, so I'm going to have surgery. That's when I started using wheelchairs.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. That was polio, right? When I was young?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. That's right.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Normally 3 years old. Polio at times like this. By the way, how old were you?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: I now have polio six months after I was born. You know, when I was born, polio was a very contagious epidemic.

◆ It happened. an outbreak of

◇ Lee Jong-sung: So it's reported that it's extinct around the world now. And since my birthplace is now a rural area called Gimje, Jeollabuk-do.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Gimje Plain.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. At that time, there was no longer a medical institution hospital in the rural village where people could be diagnosed with polio in the Gimje Plain. So... I just bought cold medicine at the pharmacy and gave it to them like this, so there were a lot of aftereffects left. Now it's left with a severe disability. So when I was young, I couldn't go outside and live indoors. When I entered elementary school, my father made crutches out of bamboo,

◆ Lee Seong-gyu : Bamboo

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. He made crutches with bamboo by himself. I went to school with crutches. And while hanging out with my friends, my social life began from then on. Our industrial complex is carrying out a project to support assistive engineering devices necessary for disabled workers to live their professional lives. Now, this kind of assistive device for the disabled. I always think about how valuable and valuable those parts have in life, whether it's a wheelchair or crutches.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. You mentioned college earlier. Before that, did you also wander around during puberty?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: I don't know. I think that people around me lived a life so faithfully that it was called Pansaeng. Especially, I met a lot of good people around me, including my family. I think my own physical disability was able to grow without becoming an emotional disability.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: That was because parents, including the father who made crutches with bamboo earlier, were very strong in their own way in terms of educational enthusiasm. That's what I heard.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: In particular, I really can't forget your grace. In fact, I think it's probably the opposite of motherhood rather than enthusiasm for education. As I said before, since it's the countryside, you have to take a bus from middle school.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: That's right.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: But because he's severely disabled, he's almost impossible to commute to school. So my mother always said, "You're disabled, so there's no other way to live than studying." So other family members. In order to make me study, my grandmother and father were against it, they almost ran away from me and brought me to Seoul alone.

◆ Is it your mother? Mother alone? Is your father here?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. Your father and grandmother need to farm.
◆ Lee Seong-gyu: He's in Gimje.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: In rural areas, because that person is a worker, there's a lot of people missing. That's why you opposed it. So I came to Seoul and settled in a place with a good educational environment. Well, thanks to this, I have completed the general curriculum safely, including university education. So... Parents with severely disabled children, especially parents with developmental disabilities, are only concerned about their children's future these days, right? And when I see the way he cares, I always feel heavy because I feel like I'm seeing my mother at that time.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: You majored in accounting?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: But I heard that you originally wanted to go into the science and engineering field?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. When I was young, I always said that my dream was to be a scientist, but I wanted to reveal this. In the process of entering the university, there was a situation where the university refused to enter because of experimental practice and such parts. After consulting with various families, they said, "If you study accounting, you can sit down and make money." Suddenly, I turned to humanities and majored in accounting. You've been working on a human rights movement centered on the disabled in the 1980s, right? I think you know better than anyone else. So in a way, it was an era when discrimination against the disabled was almost natural at that time.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: That's right.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: So there was no obligation to install convenience facilities for the disabled in schools. And weren't you often denied admission due to the classroom environment?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Of course, some cases were saved through lawsuits. In the meantime, many people with disabilities have made efforts, and anti-discrimination laws have been prepared. In addition, the installation of convenience facilities is now mandatory, so many areas of movement and access have been improved. In addition, now that the special screening for the disabled has been made, I think there are more opportunities for education. On the other hand, when you look at the news these days, there are news that local residents oppose the establishment of a special school, right? Whenever I see such things, I think that people's consciousness and perception should be improved as much as institutional development.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: You also mentioned the introduction of the industrial complex earlier. The reason why you started working for a disabled organization is that. "I'll help you with something social. " Did you feel that way?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: He also worked hard in college. Being severely disabled, it was very difficult to get a job at that time. When I graduated, it was probably a little over a year after the disabled employment corporation was established. So the corporation wrote a letter of recommendation and went to the financial board for an interview. The person in charge said, "Why did you introduce people with severe disabilities like this? Did you send it? " I think it was the most unforgettable moment of frustration when I saw him scold the industrial complex in front of me. Then, for those with disabilities, employment in the profession is very important. It's really important because our corporation's job is to solve that problem. As I said earlier, I also feel a sense of responsibility and mission in terms of determining someone's life.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. YTN Radio <Lee Sung Kyu's Happy Comma, Wait> There's no one else like this. Today, we are talking with Lee Jong-sung, chairman of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled. Chairman of the board. We listen to a song at this point.

◇ Heterogeneity: Yes

◆ Can you recommend a song?

◇ Singer Byun Jin-seop's "We Need Our Love".I'd like to recommend a song called >.

◆ Do you have any memories here?

◇ I think everyone knows this song. It was a very popular song. Like the lyrics, our society is getting a job. In many ways, I hope to create a society where we live together while looking back on our neighbors who are struggling and in need.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. Then, let's listen to Byun Jin-seop's "We Need Our Love", recommended by Chairman Lee Jong-sung. Yes, we need Byeon Jin-seop's love. You just listened to it. There's no one like "Lee Sung-kyu's happy comma, wait a minute." Today, we are with Lee Jong-sung, chairman of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled. Chairman, your mother also mentioned earlier, and is there anyone else other than you who made today's heterogeneity possible?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. There are a lot. To tell you one more person who can't be forgotten. There is a person who served as the chairman when I joined the disabled organization. He is the late Chairman Jang Ki-chul, the founder of the Korea Association for the Disabled. At the time, the president's philosophy was the principle of disabled parties and political power. It is now the principle of the disabled that the disabled should be the subject because the problem of the disabled should now be resolved from the perspective of the disabled. In order to effectively solve this problem, it is now political power that the disabled must develop their political capabilities and speak out. Against this background of philosophy, I was able to do a lot of things in the group, and I think I was also able to grow today. The late Chairman Jang Ki-chul is remembered as a big figure in the disability world.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: But it's your first time going to the industrial complex, what did you do first?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: It's been about a week since I was appointed, so I'm focusing more on my work. Above all, since the Employment Corporation for the Disabled is now a public institution, "a very rigid and vertical organizational culture is fixed."It's being evaluated like this. First of all, I think a lot about how to improve this organizational culture. In particular, we would like to make a lot of efforts to strengthen communication with the younger generation who work hard and make it a trusted organization while providing services to the disabled at the front line.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: These days, they are worried that the employment rate of the disabled in private companies has been around 2% over the past five years. Why? Is it not going up?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: In particular, it is now large corporations where the mandatory employment rate for the disabled is not observed. Among large companies, only about 30% of them are now keeping the mandatory employment rate. And many companies are listed as companies that fail to comply with compulsory employment for the disabled for 10 consecutive years. This means that they are not interested in hiring the disabled at all. So, there are companies that hesitate to hire the disabled because of the economic feasibility of hiring the disabled, some concerns about human management, and prejudices, and replace them with employment charges. In our view, the issue of employment of the disabled is now a matter of will. In fact, in the case of the government, public institutions, and companies, the decision of the top decision-maker often opens the door to employment for the disabled. For example, recently, employment of the disabled has been actively carried out in such industries, such as distribution, construction, and accounting firms, which were considered difficult to employ the disabled.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Accounting firm.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: You must know that better because you studied accounting. If that doesn't work anymore, there is a little prejudice against disabled workers.

◇ [Voiceover] That's right. I think most of our people will feel that a lot now. You feel like you've never experienced a disabled person. So far, our society has not experienced many people with disabilities because it is a little difficult to have a structure in which people with disabilities can actively engage in social activities. That's why businesses, business owners, and people in charge of employment, what can these disabled people do? What kind of disabled people should we hire? If you hire a disabled person, you have to work on convenience facilities. Do I have to treat him in a special way? Do I have to pay attention to it? " You are very concerned because of this preconceived notion of burden. This is absolutely false prejudice. For reference, there was the 10th International Paralympic Games held in Mass, France, in March. Our Republic of Korea has won for the eighth time in its career. In particular, I have won eight gold medals out of a total of 10 jobs in the field of IT information technology. So, we beat strong competitors like France and Taiwan, and now we have won the overall championship. Looking at these things, people with disabilities can show their abilities in various fields. I think I can work in many fields without distinction from non-disabled people. Above all, we need to improve our awareness. As a colleague next to me, I need such efforts to accept disabled workers. Our corporation is now providing employment consulting services to companies. In addition, various support systems are being operated by improving work support and employment environment. So, if any business is interested in hiring the disabled, please knock on our door and we will actively guide and help you.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: And you just talked about a project to improve awareness. You run a variety of businesses. There's another area where I think I should do more since I'm here.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: If companies say they want to hire, they have to be ready to supply the right people. Therefore, in order to create conditions for the disabled to work for a long time in good jobs, it is necessary to strengthen their job competency. So, our industrial complex discovered species suitable for digital training or the era of the 4th industrial revolution. It also provides training for disabled people. It also provides a lot of comprehensive services ranging from employment and follow-up management. The industrial complex itself is in line with the government's state administration. And businesses will continue to put a lot of effort into bringing about change and innovation.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. When he was in the National Assembly, he said, "Let's introduce a personal property system in Korea. " Please make that argument. You've done a lot of things. There will be many people looking for a job at this time. What would you like to say?

◇ Lee Jong-sung: I hope that all of you with disabilities across the country believe in your own possibilities and challenge yourself with confidence. I think your success is the success of our society. Our industrial complex is also determined to spare the necessary support so that you can maximize your abilities. I promise to always be with you while supporting your passion and challenge.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: And please say something to the company as well.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: As I said earlier, if interested people who want to hire disabled people in businesses knock on our door at any time, we will start from job analysis of disabled people to customized vocational training. And I ask for your interest and contact because we consult comprehensively on everything from personnel management to personnel management, and we provide comprehensive support for companies' employment of the disabled.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: We have quite a lot of fat tissue, right? The industrial complex?

◇ [Voiceover] That's right.

◆ Lee Seong-gyu: Yes. There's no one like this. Today, I was with Lee Jong-sung, chairman of the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled. Thank you for the nice words.

◇ Lee Jong-sung: Yes. Thank you.

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