College reverses decision on disabled applicant

SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean university has withdrawn its recent
rejection of a handicapped student following a warning by the country's human
rights watchdog, the National Human Rights Commission said Wednesday.

Hallym University, located in the eastern Gangwon Province. had turned down the
27-year-old woman's application to the school's doctorate program last year,
claiming her cerebral palsy raised doubts about her research capability.
Denouncing the decision as discriminatory, the Human Rights Commission asked the
college to reevaluate the woman's application under a separate standard. The
commission had also recommended the school hold a human rights seminar for its
professors.
Hallym University has agreed to reexamine the application, and revised its
admission principles to match the commission's standards, the watchdog said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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