[2022 National Audit] Disabled People Also Marginalized in the 'National Reading Survey'

Kim Ye-ji, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] It has been revealed that reading-disadvantaged groups such as visually impaired people are also being excluded in the 'National Reading Survey' conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Kim Ye-ji, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the People Power Party, pointed out that the National Reading Survey, conducted every two years, has excluded surveys targeting reading-disadvantaged groups, especially people with disabilities, in the 2019 and 2021 surveys.

This survey serves as essential data used as a basis for establishing reading culture promotion plans implemented by government-related ministries and metropolitan/provincial governments, and is utilized as reference material for promoting national reading across various sectors such as media, schools, businesses, and the publishing industry.

However, Representative Kim pointed out that the survey not only fails to identify whether respondents have disabilities but also lacks options related to reading accessibility in the multiple-choice questions about reading barriers, making it difficult to understand the characteristics and needs of reading-disadvantaged groups such as people with disabilities.

She also criticized that the 2022?2026 Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Plan established by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last August contains no plans for people with disabilities. She stated, "People with disabilities, who are citizens of the Republic of Korea, should be recognized as a reading demand group, and measures should be prepared to reflect their reading realities in the publishing industry and surveys." In this regard, Representative Kim recently proposed the 'Reading Culture Promotion Act Amendment' which includes provisions to improve reading accessibility for reading-disadvantaged groups.