The Broadcasting Media and Telecommunications Commission said on Aug. 18 it has published practical guidelines on Korean Sign Language interpretation broadcasts with the Korea Communications Agency to boost Deaf viewers’ access to broadcasting.

The guidelines include three basic principles for Korean Sign Language interpretation broadcasts, tailored guides for sign-language interpreters and broadcasters, practical interpreting guidance by broadcast genre, and steps to build a stakeholder-participation feedback system for use in production settings.

Appendices include final checklists for the last 1 minute before airing, checklists for responding to unexpected situations, and guidance to prevent interpretation errors.

The introduction, key content of each chapter and best practices are also provided through sign-language videos accessed via QR codes. Deaf sign-language interpreters handled all interpretation, and hearing sign-language interpreters and Deaf viewers reviewed the content.

Korean Sign Language interpretation broadcasts have expanded in volume since the introduction of mandatory programming in 2011, but calls have grown for quality improvements, including cases of missing key content or providing incorrect information. There has also been confusion in the field due to insufficient guidance by broadcast genre and for interpreting methods and unexpected-situation response standards before, during and after broadcasts.

The commission collaborated from last year with about 30 experts, including people with disabilities, sign-language interpreters, broadcasters and academia, to draw up the guidelines. It plans to update the content regularly to reflect changes in Korean Sign Language and field feedback.

BMTC Chairman Kim Jong-chul (김종철) said he hoped sign-language interpretation broadcasts would become high-quality services that Deaf people can fully understand and relate to, beyond simply being provided. He said the commission would continue to actively communicate with policy users, including people with disabilities, to develop policies that help in real life.

The guidelines were produced as a handbook and an e-book and can be downloaded for free from the commission’s and the Korea Communications Agency’s websites.