[2022 National Audit] National Theater Company Sees Steady Growth in Disabled Audience with Increase in Barrier-Free Performances

Seoul Arts Center, Zero Barrier-Free Performances in 4 Years... Decrease in Disabled Audience
Rep. Kim Yeji: "National Theater is a Model Case, Barrier-Free Performances Should Expand by Disability Type"

National Theater Barrier-Free Musical Drama 'Hap★che' Photo by National Theater

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Beyond improving performance venue facilities, the number of 'barrier-free' performances that break down barriers preventing people with disabilities from attending shows?such as through subtitles, sign language interpretation, and audio description?has increased, leading to a rise in the number of disabled audience members as well.

Kim Yeji, a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the People Power Party, announced on the 18th that an analysis of the number of audience members who received disability discounts among National Theater Company of Korea attendees over the past four years from 2019 to this year showed an increase in disabled audience members relative to the total audience.

The proportion of disabled audience members to the total audience at the National Theater Company of Korea was 0.54% in 2019, 0.51% in 2020, 0.73% in 2021, and 1.55% in the first half of 2022. Except for the period when the performance environment was difficult due to COVID-19 over the past four years, the number of disabled audience members showed an increasing trend.

The expansion of disabled audience members at the National Theater Company of Korea is attributed to the increase in the number of performances providing accommodations for people with disabilities. In 2019, none of the 16 total performances offered any accommodations. However, in 2020, among 10 total performances, two performances screened in the online theater provided sign language interpretation, audio description, and subtitle services.

In 2021, accommodations were provided in 6 out of 15 performances, and in the first half of 2022, 4 out of 9 performances offered such services. Some performances also provided mobility support. Notably, in 2021, while preparing the play Roadkill in the Theater, the National Theater Company of Korea created a barrier-free performance accessibility enhancement manual to specify support measures for disabled audience members.

On the other hand, the Seoul Arts Center has seen a gradual decline in the number of disabled audience members. An analysis of the number of audience members who received disability discounts relative to the total audience at the Seoul Arts Center over the past four years from 2019 to this year showed figures of only 2% in 2019, 0.1% in 2020, 1.8% in 2021, and 1.6% in 2022. The Seoul Arts Center stated that no performances provided accommodations for people with disabilities during this period.

Assemblywoman Kim emphasized, “The National Theater Company of Korea is showing a model case where the number of disabled audience members increases as barrier-free performances increase,” adding, “Other performance institutions, including the Seoul Arts Center, should increase the number of barrier-free performances that consider accessibility according to different types of disabilities so that the number of disabled audience members can grow further.”

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