Subsidiary HiTeleService Opens Sign Language Consultation Center
Plans to Expand Sign Language Consultation Services from Counseling and Service to Purchase and Rental
HiTeleService to More Than Double Special Recruitment for Disabled Persons This Year Compared to Last Year
A professional counselor qualified as a sign language interpreter (left) is conducting a sign language consultation via video call. [Photo by LG Electronics]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Hi-Tele Service, a subsidiary of LG Electronics' customer consultation service, announced on the 26th that it recently opened a Sign Language Consultation Center to make it easier for hearing- and speech-impaired customers to receive services.
The Sign Language Consultation Center provides services where professional consultants qualified as sign language interpreters consult with hearing- and speech-impaired customers in sign language and interpret conversations between service engineers and customers into sign language.
LG Electronics stated, "We have officially started the sign language consultation service to improve service accessibility for customers with disabilities," adding, "This is part of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management that pursues growth where companies and society coexist."
Previously, hearing- and speech-impaired customers had to rely on assistance from others or use sign language interpretation services provided by institutions when consulting about products or services.
The company explained that since sign language consultants with expertise in LG Electronics products and services directly respond, customers can solve problems more quickly and conveniently.
To use the sign language consultation, customers can contact the dedicated number using wired or wireless phones with video call functions. They can also add the dedicated number on free messenger programs such as KakaoTalk and make video calls.
The Sign Language Consultation Center plans to gradually expand the scope of sign language consultation services from purchase to rental. It will also collaborate with organizations such as the Korea Disabled Development Institute, Korea Blind Union, and Korea Deaf Association to recognize disabled customers before consultation and provide customized services.
Earlier, in May, LG Electronics launched an advisory group composed of people with disabilities and accessibility experts to improve not only service accessibility but also product accessibility for people with disabilities. The advisory group creates indicators to evaluate the accessibility of home appliances and works to improve accessibility-related functions and designs of products under development by LG Electronics.
Additionally, since early this year, LG Electronics and the Korea Disabled Consumers Union have been providing voice manuals and Braille stickers that can be applied to washing machines, dryers, vacuum cleaners, and other appliances for the visually impaired.
Yu Gyu-moon, Executive Vice President and Head of LG Electronics CS Management Center, said, "We have started operating the sign language consultation service in collaboration with Hi-Tele Service so that customers with disabilities can use convenient and highly satisfactory services without discrimination," adding, "We will provide customized services and create LG's unique differentiated service culture."
Meanwhile, Hi-Tele Service is significantly increasing its consultation specialists this year to provide better consultation services to customers. Following the recruitment of about 150 consultation specialists in the first half of the year, it plans to hire a similar number in the second half. It is also expanding the special recruitment program for people with disabilities in cooperation with the Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled, doubling the scale compared to the previous year and increasing the hiring of people with disabilities.
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