The purpose of this study is to examine the social advancement of people with brain lesions in Seoul and to establish necessary support plans for them.
In general, social advancement  refers to the number of occupations an individual performs throughout his or her lifetime, but the term social advancement traditionally is used in referring to the corresponding characteristic of the disabled. In this study, the scope of social advancement was expanded to include educational, economic, and social-participation activities in investigating the lives of people with brain lesions. 
As of the end of December 2019, the number of registered people with disabilities in Seoul was 394,843, of which 41,304 (10.5%) were people with brain lesions. More than half (56.4%) were 65 or older, 25.7% were 50-64, 13.2% were 20-49, and 4.7% were under 19.
The university enrollment rate of people with brain lesions in Seoul is 12.7% and only 1.9% in the country participate in lifelong education. Facilities dedicated to people with brain lesions in Seoul include two welfare centers, six daycare facilities, and thirteen residential resources including one short-term shelter, three communal households, and one vocational- rehabilitation facility.
There are 108 programs for the disabled at the central-government level. Among them, 102 programs are applicable to people with brain lesions, and 26  directly or indirectly provide support for their social advancement. 
The Seoul Metropolitan Government also supports seriously disabled people's integration into society by providing special transportation, taxi vouchers, and an integrated job-placement-support center and assistive- device center for the disabled. In 2018, the Seoul Metropolitan Government established and is currently implementing the Master Plan for Supporting Brain-Lesion Disorders, the first time a welfare safety-net has been established in the country to provide health and welfare services for people with the most severe brain lesions and their families. 
In some foreign countries, brain lesions are classified as developmental disabilities, and social support is provided for each life cycle. The United States and Japan, for example, provide systematic life-cycle support to people with cerebral palsy.
Integration of people with brain lesions into society, involves reinforcing customised support according to the life cycle, establishing a support system for the transition period, and providing individual support for those with severe disabilities. Because certain conditions, such as cerebral palsy, make socialization difficult in the developmental years, possibly leading to difficulties in interpersonal relationships and adapting to society. Therefore, prior to full-fledged social advancement, an incubator process, such as the Career Experiment Center (tentative name), is necessary. A support system for social rehabilitation of people with severe brain lesions who suffer strokes in middle or old age also should be established.

Professional support personnel are essential in the advancement of people with brain lesions, providing not only basic care, but also sensitive advice and counseling and concrete help with workplace adaptation and dailylife support. In the long term, investing in and cultivating an experienced professional staff is necessary to ensure a better way of life for these people.
Brain lesions are associated with a wide variety of disabilities and needs, so individualised and customised support must be available. 
A quota system should be instituted to guarantee- that companies hire a certain percentage of people with brain lesions in public-job programs. Incentives also should be offered to businesses that employ people with brain lesions. In the short term, ordinances must be established to ensure the continuity of Seoul's Master Plan for Supporting Brain Lesion Disabilities, and the central government needs to reorganise the related laws.
To satisfy the diverse needs of people with brain lesions, it is necessary to revitalise and continue to support related research. Awareness education should be provided to help the public understand the characteristics and challenges of people with disabilities in general and brain lesions in specific. 
Finally, people with brain lesions should receive focused training in participating in social situations as well as expanded job opportunities and improved working environments.