Seoul City to Hold 'Sign Language Culture Festival' at Cheonggye Plaza on the 24th

A Stage for All Seoul Citizens to Enjoy Together

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Sign Language Culture Festival, which anyone interested in sign language?the "visible language"?including not only the hearing and speech impaired but also ordinary citizens of Seoul, can participate in and enjoy, will be held at Cheonggye Plaza on the 24th, Seoul City announced on the 22nd.

Held under the slogan "Creating the Value of Sign Language Together," this event will be conducted face-to-face for the first time in three years due to COVID-19. It is expected to be a communication venue where 2,000 citizens gather to learn about the meaning and value of sign language and enjoy together.

Seoul City is hosting the Sign Language Culture Festival together with the Seoul Metropolitan Association of the Deaf to promote the spread of sign language, expand the base of sign language users, and improve awareness of deaf culture and hearing and speech disabilities. The festival also contributes to revitalizing the performance culture of the cultural minority group of hearing and speech impaired people (hereinafter referred to as "deaf people").

The event, held at Cheonggye Plaza from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, includes the opening ceremony, sign language contests, and sign language cultural performances. More than 20 sign language learning and experience booths where citizens can directly participate will also be operated.

At the opening ceremony, Seoul Mayor’s commendations will be awarded to five citizens who have contributed to promoting social participation activities and improving the rights of deaf people. Mr. Min Kyung-taek, a hearing-impaired person himself, has worked as an interpreter for the hearing impaired at the Sign Language Interpretation Center, striving to spread sign language. Through relay interpretation, counseling support, smooth information access, and planning various sign language education projects for the rights of deaf people, he has contributed to improving the quality of life and welfare of deaf people.

Additionally, the Ashabeli Dance Team will open the sign language cultural performance with a celebratory stage featuring magic juggling, which combines magic and juggling. The main event will showcase "Sign Language Cultural Performances" featuring participants from Korea Oral School, Myongji College and Myongji University clubs, the Sanse Sori Children's Center, Yongsan-gu street art troupe, and individual participants.

Also, for the first time in three years, this face-to-face event offers a variety of experience booths where any Seoul citizen, regardless of disability, can participate and experience sign language and deaf culture.

Ko Gwang-hyun, Director of the Seoul City Disability Welfare Policy Division, said, "As this is a precious opportunity to gather and enjoy deaf culture and communicate after three years due to COVID-19, I hope that deaf people and Seoul citizens participating in the festival will have a happy time together," adding, "We will strive to revitalize the performance culture of deaf people and improve awareness of disabilities."