Lawyer Apologizes for Comment on Lawmaker's Disability

On July 10, lawyer Kim Ye-won publicly apologized for mentioning the disability of lawmaker Park Ji-won during a National Assembly hearing. Kim stated, "I was overly excited to meet him in person and ended up being disrespectful due to my one-sided sense of familiarity."

The incident occurred during a public hearing on four proposed laws for prosecutorial reform, where Kim, representing the People Power Party, asked Park, "Don’t you have one eye?" and shared her own experience of being visually impaired. This comment sparked controversy.

In a Facebook post, Kim expressed her admiration for Park, who actively participates in legislative activities while wearing glasses, and expressed regret over her remarks. She later reached out to Park to apologize directly, and he graciously accepted her apology.

Kim explained that her intention was to clarify her background in response to Park's question about why she opposes prosecutorial reform while advocating for marginalized groups. She reflected on her own experiences as a person with a disability, noting that despite her academic success and strong voice, she had not encountered discrimination until her work as a public interest lawyer revealed the struggles faced by many disabled individuals in society.

She emphasized the need for legal frameworks to consider those who are often overlooked. Kim concluded her statement by extending her sincere apologies to anyone who felt hurt or offended by her comments, aside from her apology to Park.

As a visually impaired lawyer, Kim Ye-won has been active in advocating for the rights of disabled individuals since she began her legal career in 2012. She currently serves as the head lawyer at the Disability Rights Law Center.