BRAILLE ACT

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Act is to extend visually impaired persons’ rights to use Braille and enhance the quality of life of visually impaired persons by preparing infrastructure for development and preservation of Braille and Braille culture.

Article 2(Basic ideology) #

Any visually impaired person has rights to use the Braille as a means of written communication, and the State and nationals shall actively endeavor to develop Braille, and preserve it and pass it down to future generations.

Article 3(Definitions) #

The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

1. The term "Braille" means marked alphabets which combine embossed points in an established form, allowing visually impaired persons to read and write such letters for himself or herself by utilizing tactile sensation. In such cases, Braille includes tactile materials which are prepared to recognize diagrams and pictures, etc. with tactile sensation;

2. The term "electronic Braille" means Braille which is electronically created to ensure that such Braille be used on Braille information terminals, etc.;

3. The term "visually impaired person" means a visually impaired person under Article 2 (2) of the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities;

4. The term "Braille transcription" means an act, etc. of converting general letters, tables, pictures, signs, etc. into Braille;

5. The term "proofreading" means an act, etc. of correcting misspelled, distorted, added, or omitted contents, or errors under Braille regulations by comparing the Braille copy with the original;

6. The term "Braille regulation" means a regulation necessary for the use of Braille, including Korean alphabets, abbreviations, acronyms, various signs used in the fields of mathematics, sciences, computers, and music, foreign languages, transcription of punctuation marks, etc.;

7. The term "public institution, etc." means the State, a local government, or a public institution under the Act on the Management of Public Institutions.

Article 4(Validity of Braille and prevention of discrimination) #

(1) Braille is letters used along with Hangeul, and shall have the same effect as general letters in the Republic of Korea.

(2) A public institution shall not discriminate against the use of Braille, legislatively, jurisdictionally, administratively, educationally, and socioculturally.

Article 5(Duties of State and local governments) #

(1) The State and local governments shall endeavor to enhance the Braille use abilities of visually impaired persons, and develop and preserve Braille.

(2) A public institution, etc. shall establish and implement policies necessary for any visually impaired person to access and utilize all information by using Braille.

(3) Deleted. <Dec. 8, 2020>

(4) A public institution, etc. shall identify factors that may obstruct the use of Braille and take necessary measures, such as improvement and supplementation thereof, so that visually impaired persons do not experience any inconvenience in using Braille. <Added on May 18, 2021>

Article 6(Relationship to other statutes) #

This Act shall prevail over other statutes with respect to the use and dissemination of Braille.

Article 7(Establishment of master plans for Braille development) #

(1) For development and preservation of Braille, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall establish master plans for Braille development (hereinafter referred to as "master plan") every five years after deliberation by experts, etc. related to Braille.

(2) A master plan shall include the following subparagraphs:

1. Matters concerning basic direction and goals to promote policies related to Braille;

2. Matters concerning formulation and amendment of Braille regulations;

3. Matters concerning enhancement of Braille use abilities of visually impaired persons and improvement of environment for Braille use;

4. Matters concerning connection between Braille policies and Braille education;

5. Matters concerning publicity of value of Braille and preservation of cultural heritage of Braille;

6. Matters concerning dissemination of Braille and international exchanges thereof;

7. Matters concerning Braille informatization;

8. Matters concerning unification plans for Braille of South and North Korea;

9. Matters concerning qualification of professional personnel related to Braille and nurture such personnel;

10. Other matters necessary for development and preservation of Braille.

Article 8(Formulation of annual implementation plans) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall establish and implement the detailed plans under the master plan (hereinafter referred to as "implementing plan").

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request cooperation from the heads of public institutions or the relevant institutions among specialized corporations established under the Acts, if necessary for establishment and implementation of implementing plans. In such cases, the heads of the institutions so requested shall accept such request except in extenuating circumstances.

Article 9(Fact-finding survey) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may collect materials regarding Braille use abilities of visually impaired persons, awareness of Braille, and environment of Braille use necessary for establishment of policies related to Braille, and conduct surveys on the actual status thereof.

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may request a public institution, etc. to submit materials or state opinions, etc. when necessary for collecting materials or surveying the actual status under paragraph (1). In such cases, the public institution, etc. which are requested to submit materials or state opinions shall accept such request except in extenuating circumstances.

(3) Other matters necessary for survey of the actual status shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 10(Formulation and amendment of Braille regulations) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall formulate Braille regulations after deliberation by experts, etc. related to Braille, and notify such matters on the official gazette. The same apply when he or she amends such regulations.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis when formulating or amending the detailed guidelines necessary for Braille use.

Article 11(Creating foundation for Braille education) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall implement necessary projects to establish a foundation for Braille education, such as developing and distributing educational curriculum and textbooks and training Braille teachers for persons who intend to learn Braille, in consultation with the Minister of Education and the Minister of Health and Welfare. In such cases, the Minister shall seek advice from the Committee prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Amended on Sep. 27, 2022>

(2) The Minister of Education shall provide support to visually impaired students in Braille learning for the enhancement of their ability to use Braille, so that they can access and utilize all information by using Braille. <Added on Sep. 27, 2022>

(3) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may designate a facility which employees Braille teachers under paragraph (1) or Braille transcribers and proofreaders under Article 12 (2) and is capable of publishing Braille materials, among public institutions under Article 4 of the Act on the Management of Public Institutions, and corporations and organizations related to Braille, as the Braille education center. <Added on Sep. 27, 2022; Feb. 27, 2024>

(4) The State may subsidize, within budgetary limits, the expenses necessary for operating the Braille education centers designated under paragraph (3). <Added on Feb. 27, 2024>

(5) Matters related to the qualification requirements and others for Braille teachers under paragraph (1) and the designation requirements of the Braille education centers under paragraph (3) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree. <Added on Feb. 27, 2024>

Article 11-2(Examination of Braille proficiency) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may examine Braille proficiency in order to improve and evaluate Braille proficiency.

(2) Matters necessary for the methods, procedures, contents, and timing of the examination of Braille proficiency under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

[This Article Added on Feb. 27, 2024]

Article 12(Dissemination and support of Braille) #

(1) The Minister of Education shall prepare and distribute textbooks in Braille for use by visually impaired students and teachers at each level of schools under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. <Amended on Dec. 12, 2017; Aug. 14, 2025>

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the heads of local governments may subsidize all or part of the expenses incurred in the production and distribution of Braille publications for facilities that are capable of Braille publication and meet the following requirements:

1. Braille transcribers and proofreaders;

2. Plate making systems or printing machines for Braille;

3. Binding machines for Braille materials;

4. Other equipment and software necessary for Braille publication.

(3) Specific criteria, scope of support, and targets for support, etc. of facilities under paragraph (2) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 12-2(Braille documents provided by public institutions) #

(1) Where any visually impaired person demands, public institution, etc. shall provide him or her with documents in Braille letters (including electronic Braille documents; hereinafter the same shall apply) the contents of which are the same as the corresponding documents in general letters.

(2) Public institution, etc. shall disclose the current status of demand for Braille documents under paragraph (1) and the results of provision thereof by using information and communications networks by not later than January 31 of the following year pursuant to Article 7 of the Official Information Disclosure Act.

[This Article Added on Dec. 8, 2020]

Article 13(Compliance of Braille regulations of curriculum books and official documents) #

When curriculum books, official documents of a public institution, etc., and other publications are prepared in Braille, they shall comply with Braille regulations.

Article 14(Spread of Braille culture) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall actively perform publicity activities and provide education using newspapers, broadcasting, magazines, internet, electronic boards, etc. for dissemination of correct Braille culture.

(2) Mass media such as newspapers, broadcasting, magazines, and internet shall display efforts to improve the nationals’ awareness of Braille.

Article 15(Hangul Braille day) #

(1) November 4 of each year shall be designated as "Hangul Braille Day", and the week where the Hangul Braille Day belongs shall be designated as "Hangul Braille Week", in order to promote the rights of visually impaired persons to use Braille and enhance the public interest in and understanding of Braille.

(2) The State and a local government may hold events and so forth to commemorate Hangul Braille Day pursuant to paragraph (1).

[This Article Wholly Amended on Dec. 8, 2020]>

Article 16(Supporting activities of private organizations) #

The State and a local government may provide administrative or financial support for corporations or organizations, etc. engaging in activities for the purpose of development and dissemination of Braille.

Article 17(Promotion of Braille informatization) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall actively implement various projects for Braille informatization to create and utilize knowledge and information through Braille.

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall support development and dissemination of software, devices and services, etc. necessary for use of Braille, Braille translation and correction under a master plan so that visually impaired persons conveniently use such applications.

Article 18(Qualification of specialized personnel related to Braille) #

(1) A public institution, etc. may grant qualification to specialized personnel related to Braille.

(2) Matters necessary for classification of qualification, requirements for qualification, and methods for qualification, etc. under paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by Presidential Decree.

Article 19(Consultation) #

Where the head of a central administrative agency intends to formulate or amend a statute which includes contents concerning use of Braille, etc., he or she shall consult such matters with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism in advance.

Article 20(Delegation and entrustment of authority) #

(1) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may delegate part of his or her authority under this Act to the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, or a Special Self-Governing Province Governor, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.

(2) The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism may entrust part of affairs under this Act to the relevant institutions or organizations, as prescribed by Presidential Decree.