Subject
- #Disabled people in South Korea
- #Disabled people in Japan
After watching this video and reading the comments, my illusions about Japan were shattered. I already knew from Won Shot Hansol's video that Japan's public transportation is convenient for people with disabilities. However, this only applies to people who are visibly disabled, such as the visually impaired or wheelchair users. I wondered if someone like me, who is somewhat disabled but doesn't appear so at first glance, would be treated almost like a normal person.
At this point, I have to talk about my disability. It's easiest to explain if you assume I have visual, physical, and mental disabilities. I won't go into detail about each one due to privacy concerns. For the record, my mental disability developed after I came to the United States. I've always had poor eyesight and physical limitations, but I attended regular schools from elementary to university.
I experienced discrimination in Korea, but the US is a haven for people with disabilities. As I mentioned earlier, I've never been discriminated against or received negative comments because of my disability. I'm very relieved that I came to the United States. In the words of those who believe, it is entirely God's guidance, grace, and gratitude.
I briefly considered what it would be like to return to Korea recently. I think social awareness and systems have improved a lot since twenty years ago. I even felt a sudden urge to temporarily escape to Japan. However, after watching the video above today, my mind is firmly set on Korea.
Barrier-free accessibility certainly exists, and the kindness of Japanese people and those working in public transportation might feel excessive compared to Korea. However, outside of major metropolitan areas like central Tokyo or Osaka, you'd at least need to use a bicycle to get around, which is impossible for me due to my physical limitations. Furthermore, in outlying areas like Kitakyushu, where the Little Joe Big Joe family I subscribe to lives, movement is restricted without a car, just like in the US. Plus, in snowy areas like Hokkaido, walking is practically impossible in winter.
But Korea's small size means that even if you can't drive, you can easily get around to most places, which is a big advantage and attraction. During university, I only went to Seoul for a day trip, but even back then when I was using a feature phone, I didn't find it too inconvenient to travel by express bus. And, although some may disagree, even in Changwon, where it snows occasionally, I was quite satisfied using public transportation.
Most importantly, even if I have bad memories and experiences in Korea, it's my birth country, so even if I go there now for a visit, it might feel strange at first, but after some time I think it wouldn't feel awkward at all. And the best part is that I can communicate everywhere. I actually only lived in Changwon, so I don't know about other places, but the Changwon area, comprised of Uichang-gu and Seongsan-gu in the integrated Masan-Changwon-Jinhae region, is still very well-organized. This is likely because it's a planned city, making it easier to navigate than other cities.
Because of something my mother said a few days ago, I feel like I have homesickness again. I'm feeling restless, so this week I'm taking a break from YouTube and only playing my favorite games for an hour a day. I have so much free time it's empty, so I'm just staring out the window or looking through old photos of Korea that my younger sibling took last fall. I want to quickly relieve this emptiness by being selected as a Brunch writer, but when will the results come out? And there's no guarantee I'll be selected.
I've written this, but I'm not sure what to do before bed. I don't really like dramas or movies, and soon the TV noise will make it hard to concentrate on reading and analyzing the Bible... I really wish something, even something small, would change in my life. Becoming a Brunch writer won't make a huge difference, but still...
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