KOCCA holds disability awareness training in Naju

Korea Creative Content Agency said the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the agency held the workplace disability-awareness cultural education program 'Work Plus Us' on June 29 at Bitgaram Hall at its headquarters in Naju, South Jeolla Province. The agency said the program was jointly run with Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation(한국농수산식품유통공사), Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture and Forestry, and Arts Council Korea(한국문화예술위원회).

According to Korea Creative Content Agency, the program was prepared through cooperation among 4 public institutions in Naju Innovation City to increase understanding of disability and spread a workplace culture of working together. The agency said about 512 executives and employees from the 4 institutions attended online and offline and reviewed the importance of a workplace culture that respects diversity.

The agency said the event was part of legally required workplace disability-awareness training and was operated as a joint program for the 4 public institutions rather than separate sessions by institution. Korea Creative Content Agency said Hanbit Arts Company is the country's only professional ensemble for visually impaired musicians and that its 'Work Plus Us' program uses music to improve social understanding of disability and communicate the possibilities and value of artists with disabilities.

During the session, the agency said the program introduced stories of comfort and hope through music, experiences from the lives and artistic activities of artists with disabilities, and cases of employment for people with disabilities. The agency said a discussion with 2 professional instructors followed, focusing on disability understanding and communication.

In the special concert, according to the agency, Hanbit Arts Company's chamber orchestra, brass ensemble and DTL Band performed the third movement of Brahms' Symphony No. 3, 'Merry-Go-Round of Life' from the animation Howl's Moving Castle, 'Joy, Sorrow, Beautiful Heart,' 'Beautiful World' and an 'Aladdin Medley.' The agency said vocalists Lee Ah-reum and Kim Ji-ho, tenor Park Young-pil and saxophonist Lee Seung-gi also appeared on stage.

Korea Creative Content Agency said participants responded with comments including 'The combination of performance and lecture helped me understand disability naturally' and 'The excellent stage by artists with disabilities became an opportunity to think again about the value of coexistence and empathy.' The agency said it will continue to strengthen cooperation with local public institutions, expand a culture of empathy around disability and pursue activities tied to social value and an organizational culture of working together.

Kim Yoon-ji, president of Korea Creative Content Agency, said, 'I hope this education becomes an opportunity to increase understanding of disability and create an organizational culture in which people respect one another.' Kim also said, 'We will continue to strengthen cooperation with local public institutions, expand a culture of empathy around disability and take the lead in realizing social value.'