Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
KBS to introduce sign language service to peak time news show
KBS Courtesy of KBS
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Sign language interpreters will be introduced to KBS' “News 9,” marking the first time a public broadcasting network has introduced the service on a prime time news program. The move has come amid rising calls to improve the right to information for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The national public broadcaster said it will use the interpreters from Sept. 3. The decision to introduce the service came three months after the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) advised public news companies to use sign language interpreters during their prime time news programs. The programs include SBS 8 News, MBC Newsdesk and KBS News 9.
“KBS has been making efforts to provide more accessible programs for the deaf and hard of hearing. But due to the limitations of TV, which needs to convey important information in a compact form, we haven't been providing sign language services during the prime time news program,” KBS said in a statement.
“We are not obliged to follow the commission's advice but we decided to introduce the interpreters to better serve in our duty as a public broadcaster. We will take more efforts to eliminate blind spots which prevent the hard of hearing from accessing the broadcast.”
There are approximately 270,000 deaf people in the nation as of 2016 and 69.3 percent of them use sign language according to a survey by the National Institute of Korean Language released in 2017. By law the broadcasters are required to use sign language in 5 percent of their programs. KBS has been hesitant to introduce more sign language interpreters as it has been complying with the law. Currently, it is using those interpreters during daytime news programs held at 9:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and so on.
Since the spread of the coronavirus and recurring natural disasters recently, the need for more sign language interpreters has been emerging. Also, as KBS took the initiative to expand its sign language service, eyes are on whether other broadcasting companies will take similar measures.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly also decided to provide a sign language service in press briefings from Monday. Except for unplanned briefings, those holding press briefings at the National Assembly will be accompanied by sign language interpreters.