Yumyeongsan and Muui-do Natural Recreation Forests Offer Sign Language Forest Interpretation Services

The Korea National Arboretum announced on the 21st that it will operate sign language forest interpretation services at the National Yoomyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest and the National Muido Natural Recreation Forest.

A visually impaired person visiting a natural recreation forest is using the voice forest interpretation service. Provided by the National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office

The sign language forest interpretation service allows users to watch forest interpretation videos translated into sign language by scanning QR codes installed on information boards at 15 forest interpretation sites, which were previously experienced only by non-disabled individuals, using a smartphone. This service is supported at both Yoomyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest and Muido Natural Recreation Forest.

Additionally, for visually impaired individuals, a voice guidance system using location tracking (GPS) signals has been introduced. This system automatically plays forest interpretation audio when the participant reaches a specific point. This service is established and operated at Yoomyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest.

Before fully launching the sign language forest interpretation service, the Korea National Arboretum held events on the 6th and 14th, inviting 30 visually impaired individuals from Saebit Yohane House in Yongin City and 26 hearing-impaired individuals from the Seoul Association of the Deaf Seongdong-gu Branch and Seongdong Nutinamu Disabled Independence Center to experience the service at Yoomyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest. Over 93% of participants responded that they were "very satisfied" with the event.

For more detailed information about the sign language forest interpretation for the hearing impaired and voice forest interpretation for the visually impaired, inquiries can be made through Yoomyeongsan Natural Recreation Forest and Muido Natural Recreation Forest. Sign language forest interpretation videos can also be viewed on the official blog of the Korea National Arboretum.

Kim Myung-jong, Director of the Korea National Arboretum, said, "We hope that the sign language forest interpretation and voice guidance system, introduced as part of proactive administration, will serve as useful tools for 680,000 visually and hearing-impaired individuals," adding, "The Korea National Arboretum will continue to make efforts to eliminate blind spots in forest welfare."