Jung Eun-hye, left, an artist and actor with Down syndrome, and cartoonist Jang Cha Hyun-sil, second from right, Jung's mother, tell their story through a pop-up book made by Jang Cha during the "Eunhye & I" storytelling preformance at Modu Art Theater in Seoul, Oct. 21. Courtesy of Modu Art Theater People with disabilities need support to develop self-worth beyond financial, health aid Editor’s note This article is the 13th in The Korea Times' 2024 series focusing on diversity, inclusiveness and equality.
— ED. By Park Jin-hai Standing on stage at the Modu Art Theater in Seoul, Jung Eun-hye, an artist and actor with developmental disabilities, powerfully delivered a line from her role in the 2022 tvN drama "Our Blues": “You bitch! You don't believe me, do you? That I'm an artist just like mom and dad! You! You abandoned me! Seven years ago!” Addressed to her nondisabled twin sister in the drama, this line, filled with raw emotion, captivated the audience. Yet, it is her real-life ascent to this stage, marked by struggles and triumphs, that truly touches hearts.
Art has long been a powerful means of expression, and for people with disabilities in Korea, it empowers them to shatter stereotypes, rediscover their self-worth and find their rightful place within society. Through initiatives such as the Korea Disability Arts & Culture Center, established in 2015, and the barrier-free Modu Art Theater in 2023, Korea is taking a step forward in supporting disabled artists. Ar.
