Lee Kyung-hee (59), who uses an electric wheelchair, said she felt deeply powerless after witnessing the fierce spread of 'disability hate' sentiment online on the 6th. This was because after YouTuber Park Wi's video of her riding in a KTX wheelchair lift, hundreds of malicious comments targeting people with disabilities appeared on each related video. Beyond criticism of Park's personal way of raising the issue, there are concerns that a distorted social perception that treats the mobility and access rights of people with disabilities as 'charity' granted by non-disabled persons has surfaced. When Park excessively blamed the field staff for mistakes, the criticism did not subside and instead targeted the entire disabled community, with comments like, "This is why disabled people shouldn't be helped," "If kindness continues, they know it's their right," and personal attacks continued, even bringing up Park's past accident and accusing him of "bringing it upon themselves." Indiscriminate online attacks make people with disabilities shrink away, It creates a 'stifling effect.' According to a 2017 survey on hate speech by the National Human Rights Commission, 79.5% of respondents with disabilities reported experiencing hate speech online, and among them, 58.8% reported mental distress such as depression. Lee Kyung-hee expressed concern, saying, "In the end, more people will give up out of fear of being criticized even for suggesting everyday discomfort."
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