• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.627-634
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study is to analyze the employment policy for persons with disabilities, and to propose a policy development plan to promote employment of persons with disabilities in North Korea. For this purpose, this study reviewed the laws and employment status related in persons with disabilities in North Korea through literature studies and secondary data analysis as the context of the policy analysis. Since then, North Korea's employment policy for persons with disabilities was analyzed according to the framework of Gilbert and Specht(1974). The results of this study are as follows. First, the benefits of the North Korean employment policy for persons with disabilities are employment benefits and vocational skills development benefits. Second, segregated employment is mainly composed of employment policy for persons with disabilities. Third, the allocation of employment policy for persons with disabilities is centered on persons with mild and physical disabilities. Fourth, the delivery system of employment policy for persons with disabilities is segmented around the Cabinets and the People's Committee of each municipality. Based on the results of this analysis, this study suggests the development of employment policy for persons with disabilities in North Korea through the revision of regulations, the diversification of benefits, and the reorganization of delivery systems.

• 재활복지
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.1-30
• /
• 2018

This paper attempts to explore the place of human and disability rights from the perspective of Social Welfare within the context of the UN Disability Rights Convention of 2006. The overall discussion is focused especially upon the situations of human and disability rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as it is being challenged to drastically address the issues of human rights in general, and disability rights in particular. The UN Disability Rights Convention challenges every ratified State party to commence legal reforms, legal harmonization, and policy and program developments to implement the Convention. Both North and South Korea are not exceptions to this. Even without drawing upon the UN's the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the dire situation of human rights in North Korea is well documented. However, this paper does not assume South Korea's human rights are any way superior to that of North Korea. This paper spells out areas for further action common to two Koreas and to any other nations for that matter. Apart from the general discussion on disability rights, the distinctive contribution of this paper lies in the fact that it has endeavored to draw upon any latest information and data on North Korea. It relied on various sources from UN and also from North Korea itself. One can note that North Korean disability authorities are making strenuous efforts to improve human rights of persons with disabilities in their desires to seek assistance from outside. It also shows an enormous need for international cooperation in seeking financial and material supports. This paper notes the latest political development between North and South Korea in taking "phased" steps for peace and stability as a positive sign for North and South Koreans' DPOs collaboration under the banner of International Cooperation of the article 32 of the UN Disability Rights Convention. More critically, this paper points to the further need to improve the overall data bases to ensure balanced legal reforms, policy developments and sharpen the areas of international collaboration.