Completed 'Braille Maps of 8 Provinces Nationwide' for the Visually Impaired... Distributed Nationwide

This Year Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do Production and Distribution
Containing Transportation Facility Information Such as High-Speed Rail and Airports

A nationwide braille map covering 8 provinces for the visually impaired has been completed.

The National Geographic Information Institute of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 8th that it has completed the nationwide braille map by producing and distributing braille maps of Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do this year.

The National Geographic Information Institute has been producing and distributing braille maps that emboss and engrave the terrain and landmarks of Korea on paper surfaces in relief and intaglio, allowing visually impaired people to read them, in order to solve the problem of insufficient maps available for the visually impaired.

Starting with the production of braille maps of the map of the Republic of Korea and the world map in 2014, more detailed braille maps were produced focusing on Seoul, the six major metropolitan cities, and Jeju Island from 2015 to 2016.

Since 2018, braille maps containing natural terrain and living information by administrative district have been produced for the eight provinces nationwide, and with the distribution of braille maps of Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do this year, the distribution of detailed braille maps nationwide will be completed.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to produce world maps on various themes related to the curriculum to be used as supplementary materials for world geography classes at schools for the blind, and distribute them to about 110 related institutions nationwide, including schools for the blind and braille libraries.

The braille maps of the Gyeongsang region being distributed this time include major natural terrain such as rivers and elevation of terrain in Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do, as well as living information such as hospitals, government offices, tourist attractions, and highly utilized transportation information such as major roads and railway stations.

Considering that visually impaired people mainly use transportation facilities when moving, information on major points of interest around high-speed railways, airports, and stations is also included.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport explained, "Using braille maps allows users to understand the spatial relationship between departure and arrival points and spatially perceive the distance to major points of interest around stations."

The educational support world thematic maps were produced by selecting world geography-related themes necessary for the curriculum of elementary, middle, and high school students, and consist of a total of 17 braille thematic maps including the world volcanic belt, mountain ranges, and ocean currents.

Sagong Hosang, Director of the National Geographic Information Institute of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "We plan to produce and distribute maps for color vision deficiency such as color blindness in the future," adding, "We will continue to produce spatial information that considers socially vulnerable groups."

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