Gwangju University President Kim Dong-jin presents a master’s degree to Jang Ik-seon, a graduate with muscular dystrophy, during a special graduation ceremony at the campus last Friday. (Gwangju University)

A South Korean student with muscular dystrophy, which has left him mostly paralyzed except for his eye movements and speech, has earned a master’s degree by writing his thesis one letter at a time, using his blinks. His story is drawing attention to the barriers faced by people with severe disabilities in accessing education.

Jang Ik-seon, 37, was diagnosed at age five with the incurable condition that weakens and degenerates muscles, which gradually took away his ability to move. Despite this, he pursued his education relentlessly.

After passing South Korea’s middle and high school equivalency exams, he earned a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from Gwangju University. In 2019, he enrolled in the university’s Graduate School of Social Welfare, completing his coursework in 2021.

Jang shared this photo on Instagram on Feb. 21 after receiving his master’s degree and an academic award from Gwangju University. (Jang Ik-seon's Instagram account)

Gwangju University confirmed on Sunday that Jang officially received his master’s degree at the 2024 academic year’s first graduation ceremony on Feb. 21. He also received an academic award in recognition of his achievement.

Studying was a challenge at every step. With no ability to write by hand, he relied on a personal scanner to digitize books that weren’t available as e-books. “Scanning each book was exhausting, but it was the only way I could read them,” he said during the graduation ceremony. He also struggled to memorize information, since he could not take notes.

“Fifteen years ago, I could still lean my hand on a desk and take notes. Now, even that’s impossible,” he said.

Jang worked during the day at the Gwangju Muscular Dystrophy Association, advocating for people with the group of some 30 genetic muscle disorders known as muscular dystrophy. At night, he attended graduate classes, often studying into the early hours with the help of an assistant who transcribed lecture materials for him.

His greatest challenge came when writing his master’s thesis. Using an eye-tracking mouse — a device that translates eye movements into cursor commands — he typed every single word, letter by letter, by blinking.

His research focused on the right to life for people with muscle disorders, highlighting the dangers of insufficient caregiving support. He pointed out cases where ventilator-dependent patients were left alone for short periods and suffered fatal consequences.

“For us, activity support is a matter of survival,” he said, criticizing as dangerously inadequate the fact that the South Korean government only subsidizes six hours of caregiving assistance for those with severe disabilities.

Beyond academics, Jang runs a YouTube channel called "Ik-sun Jang, a man who blinks 10 million times" (@eyegamer1), raising awareness about the condition. “Muscular dystrophy patients like us are invisible,” he said. “I want to bring them out of the shadows and into the light.”

“Failure is not defeat as long as you don’t give up. Everyone deserves a chance,” Jang added.