Government Prioritizes Purchasing Kiosks Designed for Disabled and Elderly Users

Enforcement Decree of the Basic Act on Intelligent Informatization
Passed at Cabinet Meeting on the 8th... Effective from the 10th
Verification Standards and Procedures Specified
Electronic Publications Also Added to the Scope

The Enforcement Decree of the "Basic Act on Intelligent Informatization," which mandates government agencies to prioritize purchasing intelligent information products such as kiosks (unmanned information terminals) that are easily accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly, passed the Cabinet meeting on the 8th. The photo shows elderly people learning how to use kiosks (unmanned information terminals).

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] An enforcement decree related to the "Basic Act on Intelligent Informatization," which mandates that national institutions prioritize purchasing intelligent information products such as kiosks (unmanned information terminals) that are easily accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly, has been established. In addition to existing kiosks, websites, and mobile applications (apps), electronic publications have also been included in the scope. The government plans to expedite the application and enforcement of the law, focusing primarily on kiosks, which have caused significant inconvenience to the public.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced that the amendment to the enforcement decree of the Basic Act on Intelligent Informatization, containing these provisions, passed the Cabinet meeting on the 8th and will take effect from the 10th.

Previously, when the Basic Act on Intelligent Informatization was fully revised last year, the Ministry of Science and ICT introduced a system to promote the priority purchase of products that guarantee information accessibility when national institutions purchase intelligent information products. Information accessibility means that individuals such as people with disabilities or the elderly can use services and products without inconvenience caused by physical limitations such as visual or auditory impairments or cognitive restrictions.

For example, kiosks have been increasingly used recently due to rising labor costs, but issues such as kiosk height, small font size, and complicated operation methods have caused difficulties not only for digitally vulnerable groups but also for the general public. As more people experienced difficulties in issuing documents, obtaining information, ordering products, and making payments, concerns about digital exclusion have been raised.

The revised enforcement decree stipulates the delegated matters from the law, such as verification criteria and procedures for products subject to priority purchase. The Ministry of Science and ICT established Article 34-2 to systematize the verification criteria for intelligent information products subject to priority purchase.

It is stipulated that the Minister of Science and ICT can verify intelligent information products subject to priority purchase, and the Minister will publicly announce the verification criteria considering information accessibility for people with disabilities and the elderly, as well as the types of products subject to priority purchase. These include considerations for vision, color recognition ability, hearing, hand and arm movements, cognitive ability, and response time compensation and alternatives.

Article 34-3 was newly established to formalize the verification procedures for intelligent information products subject to priority purchase. Applicants must submit a verification application form, product description, and other necessary documents along with the product to the Minister of Science and ICT. If the verification criteria are met, the Minister will issue a verification certificate. The validity period of the verification is three years, with the possibility of two extensions within two years.

Article 34-4 was newly established to promote priority purchase. The Minister of Science and ICT may request national institutions to prioritize purchasing verified intelligent information products, and the Public Procurement Service may establish related procurement standards. A basis for government awards for those who contribute to promoting priority purchase was also introduced.

Article 34, Paragraph 1, Item 4 was newly added to include electronic publications as subjects guaranteeing accessibility in consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This expands the types of wired and wireless information and communication that national institutions must ensure accessibility for, adding electronic publications alongside existing websites, mobile apps, and unmanned information terminals (kiosks).

The Ministry of Science and ICT will take follow-up measures such as designating testing and evaluation institutions to ensure early establishment of the related system. In particular, when designating types of products subject to priority purchase, opinions from related ministries and agencies will be gathered, with kiosks?causing significant public inconvenience?being prioritized.

In conjunction with Information Culture Month in June, related events will be held. From June 14 to 15, using "Gwanghwamun 1st Street," surveys will be conducted on citizens' inconvenient experiences and improvement ideas. A naming contest for "Information Accessibility Compliant Kiosk" will also be held. On the 16th, a "Conference for Improving Kiosk Accessibility" will be held to share policy trends and discuss accessibility improvement tasks.

From June to December this year, a "Kiosk Usage Environment Improvement Research Group" will operate, involving stakeholders such as disability organizations, civic groups, kiosk manufacturing and operating companies, and academic experts. A working-level consultative body with related ministries will be formed to discover policy tasks.

Minister Lim Hye-sook of the Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "The Ministry regards the inconvenience in kiosk use as a core issue of digital inclusion policy that must be urgently resolved and plans to seek practical measures such as institutional improvements and policy support in cooperation with related ministries." She added, "It is important to ensure accessibility from the design and manufacturing stages of intelligent information products, and we expect that the implementation of this priority purchase system will serve as a catalyst in the public sector to spread to the private sector."

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