Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min Explain Natural Monument Animals to Visually Impaired People

National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage Publishes Braille Sensory Book with Braille and Audio Descriptions

Actor Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min participating in the narration of the natural monument animal story

Actors Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min introduce Korea's natural monument animals with warm voices. This is through the publication of "Stories of Natural Monument Animals Read by Fingertips and Delivered by Sound," released by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage in commemoration of White Cane Safety Day (October 15, designated by the World Blind Union to guarantee the rights of visually impaired people).

It is a multimedia braille sensory book containing braille and audio commentary. It introduces 70 species of animals registered as natural monuments in various ways to visually impaired people who have difficulty accessing natural heritage. These include detailed illustrations, audio commentary, animal calls, and folk songs and children's songs related to the animals. An official stated, “If you bring the sound pen close to the respective animal, you can hear the audio commentary, etc.,” adding, “We made every effort, including inserting special braille using a water droplet method with natural materials.”

'Reading with fingertips and conveying through sound, stories of natural monument animals'

A total of 75 citizens participated in the story narration and audio production. Among them were Lee Byung-hun and Han Ji-min, who had previously expressed their willingness to donate their voices. They narrated the goshawk and owl, and the hawk and musk deer, respectively. The DMC Children’s Choir sang songs introducing the animals, and SK C&C supported with artificial intelligence (AI) voice conversion technology. Kim Ye-ji, a visually impaired member of the National Assembly and a pianist, personally recited the foreword. She said, “We introduce the animal friends of this land with interesting stories and enjoyable songs,” and added, “I hope the stories shared by people with and without disabilities will become richer.”

This braille sensory book has been promoted as a key government innovation project by the Cultural Heritage Administration. It will be distributed free of charge to schools for the blind nationwide and institutions related to the visually impaired. From the 20th of this month until February 28 of next year, a special exhibition titled “Natural Monument Animals Met Through Six Dots” will be held at the Daejeon Natural Monument Center. The detailed illustrations, story narrations, and children’s songs contained in the braille sensory book will be presented in a unique way.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.