o National Human Rights Commission of Korea decided at an ad-hoc Standing Committee held on 22 to express its opinion to three ground-wave broadcasting companies and the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games to provide sign-language interpretation during the Closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games and Opening and Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games.
o NHRCK received a complaint from a disability activist that KBS did not provide sign-language interpretation except for the speech of Chair of the IOC, and MBC and SBS did not provide sign-language interpretation service at all even on the electronic boards at the scene of the Opening Ceremony. The complainant requested for provision of sign-language interpretation during the Closing Ceremony of Olympic Games and Opening and Closing Ceremony of Paralympic Games.
o In response, KBS and MBC said that they would provide sign-language interpretation for Closing Ceremony of Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and SBS stated that it has no plan to provide sign-language because it could block subtitles. The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games said that sign-language interpretation was not provided on the electronic board during the closing and opening ceremonies of all of the past olympic games and it could not provide such service during the Closing Ceremony of Olympic Games because it requires consultation with the IOC. However, it said it will provide sign-language interpretation for the Opening and Closing Ceremony of Paralympic Games.
o NHRCK hereby urges three ground-wave broadcasting companies to provide necessary accommodation including sign-language interpretation service to enable all Korean including people with hearing disabilities enjoy the global festival of Olympic and Paralympic Games.
o It also hopes that the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games provides sign-language interpretation on the electronic board during the scene of ceremonies.
o NHRCK expects the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be a festival for all people, applying the spirit of ‘harmony and coexistence’ and ‘equality and peace’to people with disabilities as well.
