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KOREAN SIGN LANGUAGE ACT

Act No. 13978, Feb. 3, 2016

Amended by Act No. 17722, Dec. 22, 2020

CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISONS
 Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to improve the right to language and quality of life of the deaf and the users of the Korean sign language, by declaring that Korean sign language is the inherent language of the deaf, which has the same status with the Korean national language, and by laying the foundation for development and preservation of Korean sign language.
 Article 2 (Basic Idea)
(1) Korean sign language is the official language of the deaf of the Republic of Korea.
(2) The State and the people shall give assistance so that the deaf using Korean sign language can establish their deaf identity and succeed to and develop Korean sign language and deaf culture.
(3) The deaf and the users of Korean sign language (hereinafter referred to as the “deaf, etc.”) shall not be discriminated against in any of the life areas of politics, economics, society and culture (hereinafter referred to as “all life areas”) for using Korean sign language, and shall have the right to live a life and be provided with the necessary information required for using Korean sign language in all life areas.
(4) The deaf, etc. shall have the right to education provided in Korean sign language.
 Article 3 (Definitions)
The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:
1. The term “Korean sign language” means an inherent form of language created based on a visual and gestural system in the deaf culture of the Republic of Korea;
2. The term “the deaf” means to the persons with hearing disability who use Korean sign language as the everyday language in the deaf culture;
3. The term “user of Korean sign language” means to a person, other than the deaf, who uses Korean sign language as an everyday language or auxiliary means due to his/her hearing disability or language disorder;
4. The term “deaf culture” means to a generic term describing the lifestyles based on the deaf identity and a value system as a deaf;
5. The term “deaf identity” means to self-identity as a deaf;
6. The term “sign language interpretation” means to conversion of Korean sign language into the Korean language or conversion of the Korean language into Korean sign language;
7. The term "public institution, etc." means to the State, a local government, and a public institution under the Act on the Management of Public Institutions.
 Article 4 (Responsibilities and Obligations of the State and Local Governments)
(1) The State and local governments shall establish and implement policies for improving Korean sign language-using environment for the deaf, etc., such as educating, distributing and publicizing Korean sign language.
(2) The State and local governments shall establish and implement policies necessary for establishing the deaf identity of the deaf and fostering deaf culture.
(3) The State and local governments shall ensure that the interpretation and application of this Act align with the content and purport of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
 Article 5 (Relationship with Other Acts)
Except as otherwise provided in other Acts, this Act shall apply to Korean sign language.
CHAPTER II FORMULATION OF BASIC PLANS
 Article 6 (Formulation of Basic Plans)
(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall formulate and implement a basic plan for Korean sign language development (hereinafter referred to as “basic plan”) via deliberation by Korean sign language-related experts, every five years.
(2) Basic plans shall contain the following:
1. Basic direction-setting for and execution goals of the policies on Korean sign language;
2. Improving the Korean sign language-using environment for the deaf in all life areas;
3. Research of Korean sign language and the standardization of terminology in Korean sign language;
4. Korean sign language education;
5. Distribution of Korean sign language;
6. Korean sign language interpretation;
7. Fostering Korean sign language-related professional manpower;
8. Establishing deaf identity and fostering deaf culture;
9. Informatization of Korean sign language;
10. Exchange and research with respect to Korean sign languages of South and North Korea;
11. Promoting the private sector's activities for developing Korean sign language;
12. Enacting and amending the Korean sign language-related statutes;
13. Other matters necessary for developing Korean sign language.
(3) When formulating a basic plan, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall consult in advance with the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies.
(4) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall notify the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies, and the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, Metropolitan City Mayors, the Special Self-Governing City Mayor, Do Governors and the Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as “Mayors/Do Governors”), of the finalized basic plan.
(5) If deemed necessary for establishing a basic plan, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request public institutions, etc. to submit materials necessary for establishing the basic plan, the persons requested to submit materials shall comply with such request, except in extenuating circumstances.
(6) Other matters necessary for establishing basic plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 7 (Formulation and Implementation of Annual Implementation Plans)
(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the heads of the relevant central administrative agencies and Mayors/Do Governors shall respectively formulate and implement implementation plans annually for developing Korean sign language (hereinafter referred to as “implementation plan”) on the basis of the basic plan.
(2) The heads of the relevant central administrative agencies and Mayors/Do Governors shall submit implementation plans for the upcoming year and the execution results of implementation plans of the previous year, as prescribed by Presidential Decree, and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall evaluate the execution results of the implementation plans every year.
(3) Matters necessary for the evaluation, etc. of the implementation plans shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 8 (Reporting)
The Government shall finalize and report without delay to the National Assembly a basic plan, implementation plans and execution results thereof.
 Article 9 (Investigation of Current Situation)
(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may conduct an investigation of current situation concerning the Korean sign language-using environment, etc. every three years to promote policies for Korean sign language.
(2) If necessary for conducting investigations of current situation under paragraph (1), the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request public institutions, etc. to submit materials or state their opinions. In such cases, the persons requested to submit materials or state their opinions shall comply with such request, except in extenuating circumstances.
(3) Other matters necessary for conducting investigations of current situation concerning the Korean sign language-using environment, etc. shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
CHAPTER III DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF KOREAN SIGN LANGUAGE
 Article 10 (Research of Korean Sign Language)
(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall conduct continuous research of Korean sign language to preserve and develop Korean sign language.
(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may conduct research projects for standardizing terminologies in various fields in Korean sign language so that the deaf, etc. can use them easily and conveniently.
(3) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may designate a specialized institution in order to conduct research under paragraph (1) or may entrust such research to research institutes or universities, or other specialized institutions deemed necessary.
 Article 11 (Korean Sign Language Education)
(1) The State and local governments shall create educational environment in which the deaf, etc. can improve proficiency in Korean sign language and the Korean language.
(2) The State and local governments shall, with respect to educating the deaf, etc., devise the policies necessary for the deaf to learn Korean sign language from the early stage of disability.
(3) The State and local governments shall ensure that Korean sign language is used at schools for the deaf as a teaching and learning language on an equal footing with the Korean language.
(4) The State and local governments shall give support so that, with respect to education at schools for the deaf, education using Korean sign language and study through Korean sign language can be seamlessly realized.
 Article 12 (Support for Families of the Deaf)
(1) The State and local governments shall establish a system for supporting families of the deaf, etc. such as Korean sign language education, counselling and related services.
(2) The State and local governments shall conduct Korean sign language education, etc. in order that the parents, etc. who have a child with hearing disability can use Korean sign language proficiently.
 Article 13 (Informatization of Korean Sign Language)
(1) The State shall actively conduct various projects to make it possible to produce and utilize knowledge and information through the informatization of Korean sign language.
(2) The State shall establish necessary policies so that everyone can use Korean sign language conveniently by utilizing an information and communications network such as a remote information and communications service network.
 Article 14 (Promotion of Use and Distribution of Korean Sign Language)
(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall spread awareness of Korean sign language and promote the use of Korean sign language, through means such as publicizing Korean sign language by using public mass media.
(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall execute projects necessary for distributing Korean sign language, including the development of educational courses and texts for the people intending to learn Korean sign language and the fosterage of Korean sign language teachers.
(3) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may designate a public institution or a Korean sign language-related corporation or organization as an institute for Korean sign language education to promote the use of Korean sign language and distribute it.
(4) The State may subsidize, within budgetary limits, expenses necessary for operating the institutes for Korean sign language education designated pursuant to paragraph (3).
(5) Matters concerning qualification requirements, etc. for Korean sign language teachers under paragraph (2) and requirements for designating institutes for Korean sign language education under paragraph (3) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 15 (Verification of Proficiency in Korean Sign Language)
(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may verify proficiency in Korean sign language to improve and evaluate proficiency in Korean sign language.
(2) Matters necessary for methods, procedures, contents and timing for verification of proficiency in Korean sign language under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.
 Article 16 (Sign Language Interpretation)
(1) The State and local governments shall provide sign language interpretation for the deaf, etc. in need of sign language interpretation.
(2) The State and local governments shall provide sign language interpretation, if deemed necessary with respect to public events; judicial, administrative and other procedures; use of public facilities; public broadcasting; and other cases deemed necessary for public interest.
(3) The State and local governments shall provide sign language interpretation services so that the deaf, etc. can avoid suffering disadvantages in all job-related activities such as job seeking, vocational training, work, etc.
(4) The State and local governments shall endeavor to foster manpower specializing in sign language interpretation.
(5) The State and local governments may establish and operate centers for sign language interpretation among community rehabilitation facilities for persons with disabilities under Article 58 (1) 2 of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.
 Article 17 (Day of Korean Sign Language)
(1) In order to extend the rights of the deaf to use Korean sign language and inspire people’s awareness of Korean sign language, February 3 each year shall be set aside as the Day of Korean Sign Language and the week starting from the Day of Korean Sign Language shall be set aside as the Week of Korean Sign Language.
(2) The State and local governments may hold memorial events for the Day of Korean Sign Language under paragraph (1).
[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 22, 2020]
 Article 18 (Support for Activities of Civil Organizations)
The State and local governments may provide necessary support, within budgetary limits, to corporations, organizations, etc., the purpose of which is to develop and distribute Korean sign language.
CHAPTER IV SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
 Article 19 (Consultation)
When the head of a central administrative agency intends to enact or amend a statute containing the content concerning the use of Korean sign language, he/she shall consult in advance with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
 Article 20 (Delegation and Entrustment of Authority)
(1) Authority of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism under this Act may be partially delegated to Mayors and Do Governors, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may partially entrust business affairs under this Act to the relevant institutions and organizations, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.
ADDENDA <Act No. 13978, Feb. 3, 2016>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force six months after this Act enters into force.
Article 2 Omitted.
Article 3 (Relationship with Other Statutes)
References in other statutes to “sign language,” “sign language interpretation,” or “sign language interpreter” shall be deemed to refer to “Korean sign language,” “Korean sign language interpretation,” or “Korean sign language interpreter,” respectively, in lieu of the previous provisions.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 17722, Dec. 22, 2020>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.