The Broadcasting, Media and Communications Commission said on Feb. 10 that a Cabinet meeting approved a proclamation of an amendment bill to the Framework Act on Broadcasting Communications Development that stipulates disaster broadcasts through Korea Sign Language to strengthen access rights for people with hearing impairments. The revision was designed to improve the effectiveness of delivering disaster information by elevating content that had remained a recommendation in a public notice into law.

Under the revised bill, the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), the lead broadcaster for disaster broadcasts, must use Korea Sign Language to help people with disabilities watch. A new provision was added saying other terrestrial broadcasters and channel operators for general programming and news programming (news PPs) must make efforts to provide disaster broadcasts using Korea Sign Language. The commission expects this will enable fast and accurate information to be delivered to people with disabilities when disasters occur.

Kim Jong-chul (김종철), chairman of the commission, said, "This revision has made it possible to deliver disaster information quickly and accurately to people with disabilities when disasters occur." The bill passed by the Cabinet meeting on the day will be promulgated after presidential approval and is set to take full effect six months after the date of promulgation.