Legislative challenges on disability employment system in Korea

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of current legislation on the employment of disabled people and recommends a direction for future legislation aimed at improving the system currently in place in Korea. The goal of this paper is to provide evidence that will help guide revisions of relevant provisions of appropriate Acts and stimulate further discussion on disability and employment. To this end, the paper begins with an examination of existing legislation related to disability employment in Korea. It then presents the major legal challenges to improve the disability employment system. The paper concludes by providing five recommendations based on a review of the current legal system in Korea. Firstly, the impairment grading should be reevaluated in relation to the quota system. Secondly, the period of mandatory employment rate evaluation should be revised in order to reflect the changing environment. Thirdly, the employment levy should be determined by the level at which employers are induced to employ disabled people. Fourthly, part-time worker with disabilities should be factored into the quota system. Fifthly, surveys should be conducted on employers who are required to pay levies and employers who qualify for the subsidy, to ensure that the levy and subsidy are working properly.