“It is a crime to give birth to a person with a disability”…Remarks by Busan Buk-gu office director cause controversy

Oh Tae-won, head of Buk-gu, Busan, said during a discussion on the preservation of lifelong education centers for adults with developmental disabilities that ``we should not have given birth to people with disabilities.'' statement of
It is controversial. According to the Busan Parents of Persons with Disabilities Association on the 22nd, Director Oh spoke at a joint press conference of Gangseo-gu and Buk-gu, Busan on the 17th of this month regarding the preservation of the Continuing Education Center.
We had a discussion. During the conversation, Kim Hyun-chan, the head of the Gangseo-gu Office, said, ``Parents of people with developmental disabilities live their lives as sacrifices.What is the fault of the parents?''
If she was guilty, she shouldn't have given birth, so why did she give birth?" When Director Oh spoke, silence fell in the room. Then, as the venue was filled with commotion and a surprised atmosphere, the O-ku Office
The chief said, ``I think I said the wrong thing. I have to be careful with my words,'' and appeared to be trying to bring the situation under control. Buk-gu has the fourth largest number of people with disabilities among Busan's 16 wards and counties. Last year,
It has been designated as a city of lifelong learning for people with disabilities, and has been selected as an excellent local government for two years in a row in the 2023 Welfare Project for People with Disabilities, and has also received institutional awards.
As the controversy spread, Director Oh of the district office said that he was sorry for the difficult situation faced by parents of children with developmental disabilities.
He made it clear that there was no intention to belittle him. Director Oh said, ``I wonder if there are people who wanted to give birth to a child with a disability and gave birth to a child with a disability.
"It must have been really difficult, it would have been better if the child didn't have a disability, and it hurt my heart," he said, adding, "I never intended to look down on or speak ill of people with disabilities."