Sang-Jin is a 24-year-old from Korea in the first semester of his third year at Inha University in Incheon, Korea. He participated in Special Olympics Korea’s Integrated Sports Competition held in Inje, Korea in 2022. He learned the value of playing with TOVE FC, a soccer team whose players have intellectual disabilities. When Sang-Jin competed with TOVE FC he could feel that there was harmony on the field of play, and everyone felt accepted. It was not just about winning or losing. Sang-Jin wants to develop another Unified team to encourage more athletes and Unified partners to join the movement.
Sang-Jin aims to investigate whether athletes are being discriminated against in the socialization process. He wants to help athletes with disabilities go out into society to get a job, enabling them to earn money.
Sang-Jin’s project is divided into two categories: athletes who are currently engaged in social activities, and athletes who are not, to secure information and investigate. An overall investigation will be conducted over the course of the project to find out whether athletes who are working in society had any difficulties in the process of employment, and whether or not they felt uncomfortable or discriminated against while working.

Afterwards, he will present the findings and try to correct society’s prejudices by surveying neuro-typical people on their responses to how they would react if there were employees with intellectual disabilities in the restaurants, cafes, and stores he visits.
Sang-Jin feels strongly that we must work together to create a society free from discrimination by finding out what our society knows about people with disabilities and correcting any stereotypes. This project will further that goal.