Hwang Jung-eun, an officer at the Rainbow Art Center of Seoul Metropolitan Children's Hospital, stressed on the issue of employing people with disabilities that "real help is accepting them as coworkers who work together, not as recipients of charity."
In an interview with the Seoul Economic Daily on Thursday, Hwang said, "Employment is the most important foundation that allows developmentally disabled artists to live with their own role in society," adding, "After considering how to change reality, we arrived at the answer of 'employment.'" The Rainbow Art Center opened at Seoul Metropolitan Children's Hospital in 2023 and has supported the social entry of developmentally disabled children and adolescents by providing art therapy and education. However, developmentally disabled students repeatedly returned to the hospital after failing to adapt to general educational institutions. Hwang resolved these difficulties through cooperation with Woori Bank. In April this year, Woori Bank hired 20 developmentally disabled artists into its social contribution department through a special recruitment program for artists with disabilities. Using the Rainbow Art Center as their base, they participate in orchestra and choir performances as well as bank events. Kim Min-soo, an assistant manager in the social contribution department who was hired this time, said, "Now that I receive a salary and can take music lessons, I feel like I've become a real adult." Lee Han-hyung, another assistant manager, said, "My family congratulated me a lot, saying I got a job at a good company."
This project is meaningful in that it gave developmentally disabled artists a role as members of society. Hwang said, "I think true inclusive finance begins with this kind of approach."
Woori Financial Group is putting effort into building a foundation for vulnerable groups to become self-reliant, beyond providing financial support for them. This year, it is pursuing 3.5 trillion won in financial support for vulnerable groups, along with establishing its 100th Goodwill Store. Hwang said, "It is important to provide direct and indirect opportunities so that vulnerable groups can become self-reliant," adding, "I hope Woori Financial Group's inclusive finance model spreads across the financial sector and becomes an opportunity for developmentally disabled people to find their role in society."
