Pictures reveal hope for disabled workers

For women with physical disabilities, economic independence is a precondition for encouraging self-esteem and the confidence needed to overcome obstacles. However, in Korea it seems there is not enough support for such women for them to be independent.
At least that’s the view of the “Women Creating a Bright Future,” group which is currently holding a public photography exhibition, entitled “Women who Are Changing Disabilities into Hope,” which aims, through powerful images, to cast away social prejudice and promote employment for women with disbilities. The exhibition consists of 40 images of women who are not only overcoming their physical limits but are also achieving great things in their workplace.
The images are by an award-winning Korean photographer, Kim Sang-gi, who lost his right hand in a factory accident several decades ago. He says photography gave him hope for a future. He is now renowned for his artistic works. Park Jung-Ae, the administrator of the exhibition said she selected Kim as sole photographer for this event because of his reputation and because he is physically challenged.
Mr. Kim’s photographs manifest the stories of women who have overcome disabilities. For example there’s An In-sun, 45, who appears in“Being Physically Challenged Means It’s Impossible? I Work Harder Because I’m Physically Challenged!” (2006). She became disabled from polio as a child but is now a successful employee at Hyundai Motors. Another work titled “ Finding Culturally Talented People by Ballet Is my Goal” (2006) is a photograph of Kim Su-mi, 36, who became physically challenged at 20 when she fell off a building while she was wiping windows. She is now chief of the Shalom Ballet Company, teaching children how to dance. The photography exhibition also offers interviews with the women who participated and are willing to share their hopeful messages with the Korean public.
The exhibition runs through December 31 and from today can be seen on the stone wall along Deoksu Palace in downtown Seoul. From Oct. 27 to 29 it will be at the Artsonje Center, and from Nov. 14 at the Main Hall of the National Assembly Building in Yeoido. For more information, visit the Web site, www.wsbt.or.kr

by Chough Eun-young