Law "Movie Theaters Must Provide Subtitles and Audio Descriptions for Audiovisual Disabled"

Visually and Hearing Impaired Individuals Partially Win Appeal in Discrimination Lawsuit Against Movie Theaters

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The appeal court ruled in favor of visually and hearing-impaired individuals in a lawsuit against multiplex cinema operators demanding the right to watch movies without discrimination.

On the 25th, the Seoul High Court Civil Division 5 (Presiding Judges Seol Beomsik, Lee Junyoung, Park Woncheol) partially ruled in favor of four visually and hearing-impaired plaintiffs in their appeal against CGV, Lotte Cultureworks, Megabox, and others in a discrimination relief lawsuit.

If the ruling is finalized, theaters with more than 300 seats must provide subtitles and audio descriptions for more than 3% of the total screenings of movies that the plaintiffs wish to watch.

Previously, in 2016, the plaintiffs filed a discrimination relief lawsuit demanding that all movies shown in theaters provide subtitles and audio descriptions.

However, this ruling recognizes accessibility to a somewhat more limited extent compared to the first trial. The first trial required that subtitles, audio description files provided by film companies or distributors, and hearing aids be provided at all times during movie viewing.

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