Operation of Gyeongbokgung Cultural Exploration for the Hearing Impaired Until October

Gyeongbokgung Sign Language Interpretation Video

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] The Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office of the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Headquarters for Palaces and Royal Tombs will operate the ‘Gyeongbokgung Cultural Exploration Experience Program’ four times from the 21st of this month through October to enable hearing-impaired individuals to enjoy diverse cultural activities.

This event is part of a social value project in which the Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office and the Seoul Seodaemun Deaf Welfare Center jointly provide a customized cultural exploration experience program for the hearing-impaired. It was established to create a barrier-free viewing environment at cultural heritage sites, enhance accessibility to cultural heritage, and convey the proper value of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The program targets hearing-impaired residents of Seoul who have made prior reservations (around 20 people per session) and is operated as free viewing for students and families and group viewing for adults. In the case of free viewing, the ‘Gyeongbokgung Viewing Service for the Hearing-Impaired’ planned by the Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office is utilized, allowing hearing-impaired individuals to freely explore on their own. For group viewing, a Gyeongbokgung guide and a sign language interpreter accompany the group to provide guided explanations.

The ‘Gyeongbokgung Viewing Service for the Hearing-Impaired’ can be accessed through QR codes to view sign language explanation videos of Gyeongbokgung. By scanning the QR codes printed with numbers on the promotional materials for each pavilion with a smartphone, visitors can easily watch sign language explanation videos and freely tour Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The Gyeongbokgung Palace Management Office of the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Headquarters for Palaces and Royal Tombs stated, “We hope this experience program will increase accessibility to cultural heritage for people with disabilities and foster pride in our cultural heritage, including palaces, thereby serving as an opportunity to activate various programs for socially vulnerable groups in the future.”