Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan Visited “Sancheong Seongsimwon,” a Nursing Facility for People Diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease, and Listened to Their Difficulties

- Held an on-site meeting, marking the 65th anniversary of Sancheong Seongsimwon

- Gathered opinions, such as by reviewing the implementation of mediation and recommendation

(June 26, 2024, ACRC)

On the morning of June 26, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) visited Sancheong Seongsimwon, a nursing facility for people diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease, to review the implementation of institutional improvement and mediation aimed at protecting the rights and interests of people with Hansen’s Disease and listen to their grievances, inviting interested parties from Seongsimwon and Sancheong district.

In December 2021, ACRC recommended institutional improvements concerning the protection of the rights and interests of people diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease and the environment and welfare of settlement villages to 66 local governments, including South Jeolla Province and Yeosu City, and 9 central government departments, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare. These recommendations were made based on fact-finding investigations into 82 settlement villages for people with Hansen’s Disease nationwide.

In addition, in November 2023, ACRC mediated and ensured agreements among interested parties to establish tailored standards, such as alleviating requirements for entering the facility. This mediation was related to a conflict arising from the absence of operational and institutional foundations for nursing facilities serving people with Hansen’s Disease, involving 5 nursing facilities and relevant agencies, such as Cheongju City and the Korea Disease Control and Protection Agency. The Commission has been committed to reviewing the implementation status by visiting the field.

* Evergreen Welfare Center in Cheongju city on February 7, St. Lazarus Village and Korean Hansen Welfare Association on March 22, and Sorokdo National Hospital and Aeyangpyeongan nursing facility and Doseong village in Yeosu city on May 17.

ACRC monitored and encouraged relevant agencies to ensure implementation of the mediation and recommendation through the recent on-site visit and by listening to the voice of people. Moreover, ACRC plans to actively provide consultation concerning difficulties arising from the implementation and formulate measures to address matters that need additional improvement by conducting thorough fact-finding investigations and having consultations with relevant agencies in the future.

Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan said, “The recent on-site visit, marking the anniversary month of Sancheong Seongsimwon, has provided a meaningful opportunity to not only understand the difficulties experienced by people with Hansen’s Disease who have endured isolation while suffering from prejudice and discrimination expressed by the government and society but also listen to grievances on-site and discuss resolution measures with relevant agencies. We will remain committed to protecting the rights and interests of people diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease while making utmost efforts to visit vulnerable groups as a top priority, listening to their grievances and providing help.”