October 15 marks White Cane Safety Day, a poignant reminder of the rights owed to the legally blind. In this year’s observance, the Korea Blind Union (KBU) resolutely emphasized the need for the visually impaired to have equal access to media content. The call for digital content accessibility has grown louder in recent times, seeking to create content that breaks down comprehension barriers, ensuring everyone can navigate and enjoy digital media regardless of their abilities. Despite the industry’s growth, many streaming platforms still fail to provide essential features like audio descriptions, alternative text, and screen magnification to those with disabilities. Advocates are now pushing for legislation to make it mandatory for over-the-top (OTT) platforms to offer these accessibility services.
Envision a world where the joys of one’s favorite TV shows and movies are but a distant dream, the enthralling narratives forever out of reach. For the visually impaired, this harsh reality is a daily struggle, a consequence of the persisting digital media content inaccessibility. The visually impaired face daunting challenges while often remaining marginalized in our society, their struggles largely overlooked. This minority group’s plight often falls into the realm of indifference. However, there is a faint but growing call for greater consideration of the visually impaired in the digital age. A shining example is One Shot Hansol, a blind YouTuber whose videos provide insights into the daily lives and challenges of blind individuals. In these videos, viewers witness him utilizing digital media and technology, from smartphones to computers. While acknowledging the progress made in accommodating the visually impaired over time, he underscores that accessibility to digital content remains severely restricted. Much like this YouTuber, countless others within the visually impaired community wrestle to secure their fundamental rights.
Facing The Reality and International Policies
Accessibility is a crucial aspect of modern media consumption, and it is evident that South Korean OTT platforms, including Watcha, Tving, and Wavve, are facing shortcomings in this regard. According to a survey conducted by Springer Link in 2007, 74 percent of visually impaired users reported encountering difficulties due to the lack of sufficient alternate text and screenplay audio description services on these platforms. These statistics highlight the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals when trying to access and enjoy media content. While international platforms like Netflix have made progress in enhancing accessibility, they, too, have their shortcomings, with nearly 60 percent of users reporting the absence of audio description services in Korea for overseas content. Addressing these accessibility concerns is essential for creating a more inclusive and equitable digital media environment for all users.
All countries face challenges in providing equal rights for the visually impaired, but some are in a more favorable situation than Korea. International regulations, including the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), emphasize equal access to cultural life and accessible formats for media content. This involves services like audio description (AD) and subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH), benefiting a diverse audience.
Some European countries, encouraged by the European Union’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), have enacted legislation to promote media accessibility. Presently, countries like Germany, Poland, and Sweden have official regulations in place to enhance media service accessibility for those with sensory impairments. These global and regional efforts aim to create a more inclusive and equitable media environment, ensuring full participation in cultural and artistic life for people with disabilities. Professor Lee Younghee (Media and Communication, Hanyang University) stated, “Overseas OTT operators like Netflix make efforts for accessibility for people with disabilities, but it seems that domestic OTT companies are not considering it themselves. There is a need for self awareness and initiative within the domestic context to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.”
Current Movements to Enhance Content Accessibility
Korea is slowly improving with content accessibility for the visually impaired. According to the Journal of Digital Contents Society published in 2021, domestic OTT sales amounted to about 832 million United States Dollars (USD), with an annual average increase of about 27.9 percent from 2016 to 2020. For domestic OTT to secure competitiveness, it announced plans to develop techniques to overcome the lack of accessibility and emphasized that the support of the government is needed. Furthermore, the KBU also held conferences and urged members of the society and the government to guarantee their rights. In response, Congress enacted a law this summer, mandating Korean audio description and alternative text services to improve accessibility of media resources. Professor Lee states, “As society strives to enhance content accessibility for the visually impaired, the complexity of these efforts necessitates a comprehensive overhaul. Consequently, achieving significant change within the next one to two years appears challenging.”
Furthermore, Professor Lee emphasizes,“ Individuals with disabilities, including those with visual impairments, are integral members of society. Ensuring accessibility to OTT and other platforms is crucial for them to access information and lead fulfilling lives. With the increasing reliance on modern technologies like online ticketing, failing to prioritize accessibility risks further marginalizing people with disabilities from society.” The key to addressing media accessibility for the visually impaired lies in garnering greater public awareness. This heightened attention will naturally stimulate proactive government action, such as providing subsidies to domestic OTT platforms to enhance their accessibility features for visually impaired users. This endeavor, in turn, will not only enlarge the customer base of Korean OTT companies but also equip them with the financial strength to rival international giants like Netflix, potentially breaking the latter’s global dominance.
Disability is not an isolated issue confined to a select group of individuals; it can strike anyone at any time. Therefore, advancing the rights of the disabled not only contributes to a healthier society but also enhances the well-being of the entire population. The media accessibility challenges faced by the visually impaired represent just one facet of the countless struggles they grapple with in their daily lives. They deserve unwavering support in their battle against their disabilities, enabling them to fully participate in the cultural landscape. At this juncture, domestic OTT platforms must emulate the inclusive practices of foreign counterparts to foster a more welcoming and equitable media environment for all.