대한민국 · South Korea
안녕하세요. 이것은 우리의 이야기입니다.
Our language became law in 2016. The cinemas fought us for ten years.
Access on this page: Signed: Korean Sign Language — pending How this page is tested
On 31 December 2015 the National Assembly passed the Korean Sign Language Act — KSL a language equal in status to Korean — after more than seven years of the Korean Association of the Deaf campaigning, one-person protests included. It took effect on 4 August 2016. Six weeks after the vote, in February 2016, two blind and two Deaf film-goers sued the three multiplex chains for screening films they could not follow. They won in 2017. In November 2021 the Seoul High Court cut the duty to 3% of screenings in the largest theatres. On 3 September 2026 the Supreme Court threw that out: leaving out subtitles and audio description is disability discrimination, and the cost to the cinema does not excuse it. The law is ours. Now the delivery.
KSL video — this story, in our language
A named Korean Deaf creator tells this page's story in KSL. The video is the page, and the text is its transcript's cousin. This video existing is the reason this page is allowed to exist.
Ten years in court for a subtitle.
Now we build what the courts ordered — ourselves.
What do you want to do?
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I want access
Watch.Understand.Belong.
Cinema, television, and services — in KSL, captions, or audio description.
Go -
I create access
Create.Get paid.Be seen.
Deaf signers, interpreters, captioners, audio describers — your work, your name, your income.
Go -
I provide access
One API.Every screen.
Platforms, governments, cinemas, companies — deliver real access with one integration.
Go -
I back access
Host.Sponsor.Invest.
The builders who will deliver what the Supreme Court just ordered — be part of the firsts.
Go
More than one of these can be yours. The access is for you, and you can be paid to help make it.
Access in South Korea today
When we fight, Korea's own courts agree with us.
KSL is a language equal in status to Korean — Korean Sign Language Act, in force since 4 August 2016, with state duties for research, interpreter training and Deaf children's early access to KSL. And since 3 September 2026 the Supreme Court has said it in writing: a cinema that leaves out subtitles and audio description is discriminating, whatever it costs.
And we know the exhausting part: a case filed in 2016, won in 2017, cut to 3% in 2021, and sent back down in 2026 to be decided again. Ten years, four people, for the right to follow a film.
The court has ruled. The delivery comes next — made by us. That is what ally is: Deaf and blind creators, paid to make the access — KSL, captions, audio description — delivered to any screen.
In plain words
The law is on your side. What is missing is the service — and that is what gets built here, with the community.
Why captions alone are not enough → Why sign language
Talk to us
Tell us who you are
Write in your own language. We reply in it.
- Emailpartners@a11y.media
- Video messageSend a signed video — no writing needed
Contact us by form, email, or a signed video message — never voice-only.