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Discrimination Due to Lack of Sign Language on Election Programs on TV [2004] KRNHRC 35 (12 March 2004)

The representative of the Korea Association of the Deaf filed a petition against the
chairpersons of political parties and the Central Election Management Committee in April
2004, arguing that, "Subtitles and sign language were not provided properly during the joint
campaign speeches of the 17th General Elections, which constitutes discrimination against
the hearing impaired". The Commission expressed opinions to the chairman of the Central
Election Management Committee that the provisions of Paragraph 6, Article 70; Paragraph
2, Article 72; and Paragraph 10, Article 82 -2 of the Public Officials Election and
Prevention of Election Malpractice Act be revised to make airing of subtitles or sign
language for voters with hearing disabilities mandatory instead of optional.
After investigation, the Commission found the following. The Election Act was revised
on March 12, 2004. Before the revision, sign language had been required at live joint
campaign speech meetings. However, under the revised Election Act of March 12, 2004,
TV debates among candidates began to be held as joint campaign speech meetings. During
the 17th General Election, 272 TV debates were aired. Among these, only 205 debates, or
75% of the total, aired subtitles or sign language screens. The other 67 debates did not air
subtitles or sign language because of either technical difficulties at the broadcasting
company concerned or the debates were joined candidates who were not invited and thus
not financially supported.

The Commission upholds that persons with disabilities have rights to participate in all
areas of social activity including politics, economics, and socio-culture as full members of
the nation and society, if the fundamental idea of welfare for the disabled to guarantee the
rights to humane lives and the rights of the disabled is respected.
The Commission concluded that
(1) information technology and broadcasting facilities should be improved such that the
disabled can access information and express their opinions with ease;
(2) it was proper that a sign language screen should be aired for the
disabled with hearing difficulties when broadcasting national events; and
(3) campaigns of general elections for the National Assembly should provide subtitles or sign language
screens when airing campaign-related events so that the disabled with hearing difficulties
will have no difficulty exercising their rights to vote. The Committee expressed above said
opinions to the speaker of the National Assembly and the chairman of the Central Election
Management Committee.