Joo Ho-min to Found Alternative School for Children with Developmental Disabilities: "It Turned Out Exactly as They Said, 'Then You Should Teach Him Yourself'"

[Financial News] Webtoon artist Joo Ho-min has announced plans to establish an alternative school for teenagers with developmental disabilities.
On the 10th, Joo Ho-min discussed social perceptions of people with developmental disabilities and the education environment on his YouTube channel 'Jupel'.
Joo Ho-min said, "Many people asked why I didn't send my child to a special school, but it is really hard to get in." He added, "If a child can eat alone, they say their functioning is too good and won't let them attend."
He said, "A notice came saying it was time to enter elementary school. When I said, 'My child has a disability,' they told me not to worry because the Special Class was well set up and to come anyway." He added, "We got through first grade without any problems, but trouble broke out in second grade."
He went on to say, "There are children who are too high-functioning to go to a special school, but who struggle to live in an inclusive class or a regular class." He added, "People call this a 'gray zone,' and there are actually a huge number of children in that gray zone."
Joo Ho-min said, "We gathered those children and held self-help meetings for about three years. Then we decided, 'Let's build a school where children like these can study,' and ended up creating a school with our neighbors." He added, "We are preparing various things now, and we want to start small."
He added, "In the end, it turned out exactly as they said: 'Then why go to school at all? You should teach him yourself.'"
Joo Ho-min also mentioned the case against a special education teacher, which is awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court of Korea.
Previously, in 2022, Joo Ho-min filed a complaint against Teacher A, a special education teacher, on charges of emotionally abusing his child with developmental disabilities. A was indicted on charges including violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes and the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities. A was acquitted on appeal in May last year, but prosecutors appealed, and the Supreme Court review is now under way.
Regarding this, Joo Ho-min explained, "I still do not know the Supreme Court outcome. The first trial found him guilty, and the second trial found him not guilty." He added, "The reason for the acquittal in the second trial was that the recording was made secretly, so it could not be used as evidence and was treated as if it did not exist."
He continued, "The issue is whether the value of privacy protection comes first or victim protection comes first." He added, "I heard that about 40,000 teachers submitted a petition to the Supreme Court saying the Protection of Communications Secrets Act should take precedence."
He emphasized, "Regardless of the outcome, I will go my own way." He added, "I will build a school with children in the gray zone and study together with them."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter