Can Vitiligo Be Recognized as a Disability?

The 2014 Daejeon High Court ruling was a major turning point.

A patient who worked as a sanitation worker in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, had vitiligo on the face that gradually worsened and was recognized as having grade 3 facial disability in 2006. However, in 2011, when the disability rating assessment criteria were strengthened, the patient's disability registration was canceled on the grounds that 'vitiligo is not included in the disability rating criteria.'

The patient filed a lawsuit, and in 2014, the Daejeon High Court ruled that if extensive vitiligo on the face causes significant limitations in daily life and social activities, it may qualify as a facial disability.

In particular, the court ruled that it should not only look at whether the disease name 'vitiligo' is explicitly listed in the notice, but also consider the extent to which the patient actually experiences limitations in social life.

Afterward, rulings continued to view vitiligo not merely as a cosmetic issue but as a disease that can affect daily life and function.

In 2017, the Chuncheon Division of the Seoul High Court, in a case of a patient with vitiligo over the entire face, acknowledged functional limitations based on the patient's vulnerability to sunburn and restrictions on outdoor work.

In 2020, the Seoul Administrative Court also ruled that if facial deformation due to vitiligo causes significant disruption to social life, it can be considered a facial disability.

In the same year, the Central Administrative Appeals Commission also considered the medical opinion of a dermatologist as important evidence.

At that time, the specialist explained that the concept of 'pigmentation' could include not only hyperpigmentation but also hypopigmentation such as vitiligo, and based on this, the commission overturned the previous 'not graded' decision.

Period	Key Changes
2014	Recognition of social life limitations from extensive facial vitiligo
2017	Consideration of functional limitations in addition to appearance
2020	Ruling that vitiligo can also constitute facial deformation
2020	Central Administrative Appeals Commission, cancellation of previous 'not graded' decision
2021	Vitiligo facial disability criteria institutionalized.

Starting from April 2021, the criteria for recognizing vitiligo as a facial disability were clearly incorporated into the system.

After several court rulings, administrative appeal decisions, patient complaints, and expert opinions, the Ministry of Health and Welfare revised the subordinate regulations related to the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.

Since then, the criteria for vitiligo have been specifically included in the 「Disability Rating Criteria」, reducing the legal gap where people were excluded from disability recognition simply because vitiligo was not listed in the criteria, as in the past.

The most important criterion for vitiligo patients is whether vitiligo covers 45% or more of the exposed facial area.

Under the current criteria, if vitiligo covers 45% or more of the exposed facial area, it may qualify as a person with a disability that is not severe.

The full criteria for facial disability are as follows.

Person with a severe disability

- When there is disfigurement on 90% or more of the exposed facial area.

- When there is disfigurement on 60% or more of the exposed facial area and more than 2/3 of the nose shape is missing.

- When there is disfigurement on 75% or more of the exposed facial area.

- When there is disfigurement on 50% or more of the exposed facial area and more than 2/3 of the nose shape is missing.

Person with a disability that is not severe

- When there is disfigurement on 60% or more of the exposed facial area.

- When more than 2/3 of the nose shape is missing.

- When there is disfigurement on 45% or more of the exposed facial area and more than one-third of the nose shape is missing.

- When there is disfigurement on 45% or more of the exposed facial area.

- When more than one-third of the nose shape is missing.

- When vitiligo covers 45% or more of the exposed facial area.

- When there is disfigurement on 30% or more of the exposed facial area.

For vitiligo patients, the criterion of 45% or more of the exposed facial area is directly applied.

The evaluation is based on the entire externally visible facial area, including not only the face but also the ears and the front of the neck.

The exposed facial area as defined in the 「Disability Rating Criteria」 is based on the hairline of the forehead, temples, and behind the ears, and includes the front of the neck when viewed from the front. Therefore, the 45% is not calculated simply by looking at the front of the face.

Also, meeting the area criterion alone does not automatically qualify for disability registration. It must be confirmed through a diagnosis report, medical opinion, medical records, etc., that the disability is fixed even after sufficient treatment for at least 6 months.

If there is a possibility of recovery through treatment or if the disability is expected to change within the next 2 years, the disability determination may be deferred.

First, have a dermatologist evaluate whether you meet the disability criteria, and then apply for disability registration at your local community center.

In particular, you need to check the following two things first.

① Treatment records of 6 months or more

You need medical records that confirm that the condition persists despite adequate treatment for vitiligo.

② Extent of vitiligo and whether the condition is fixed

A dermatologist evaluates whether the area of vitiligo on the exposed face meets the criteria and whether the condition remains fixed even after adequate treatment.

Afterwards, you can prepare the necessary documents such as a disability diagnosis, medical opinion, and treatment records, and apply for disability registration at the community center (eup/myeon/dong) under the jurisdiction of your address.

After applying, the final decision is made through a disability assessment by the National Pension Service.