Foreword (April 2024, Health and Welfare Policy Forum)

Abstract

Disability policies have over the years progressed in such a way that the government is increasingly held responsible for ensuring the wellbeing of individuals with disabilities, with disability expenditures as a share of GDP growing remarkably over the two decades to 2022, from 0.41 percent to 0.70 percent. However, Korea’s spending on its disabled population still falls significantly behind compared to some other advanced countries. Aligned with the 47th of its 120 National Agenda items, to wit, 'Making Korea a Discrimination-Free Society through Integrated Customized Support for Persons with Disabilities,' the current government has established core policy objectives aimed at addressing disability issues. In March 2023, the current government announced the 6th Comprehensive Policy Plan for Persons with Disabilities. As this national plan has set ‘realization of equality’ and ‘quality-of-life enhancement’ for persons with disabilities as its overarching policy goals and 'integrated customized support' as the means for achieving them, it is important to examine ongoing government efforts, assess whether these goals are attainable through current approaches, and identify further steps to improve the living conditions of disabled persons. In this issue of the Health and Welfare Forum, we address key policies that concern the wellbeing of individual disabled persons, especially as regards the practice of delivering health and social services to them. We are concerned primarily with examining how much progress has been made with the personal budget scheme and integrated care for persons with severe disabilities as national projects. We also delve into how the case stands with the activity assistance program, which represents services intended for persons with disabilities, and seek ways for its improvement. Additionally, we here take occasion to scrutinize the current status of other ongoing policy measures that are of significant interest to the disability community, among them the Health Care Management Plan for Persons with Disabilities, a policy framework for expanding support for disabled individuals, and discuss ways to improve them.