Blind spots in movie theater human rights reduced... CGV accepts '1% rule' for disabled seats

"By the End of 2023, Individual Theaters Must Install at Least 1% Disabled Seating"

The accessibility for people with disabilities in movie theaters, once considered a "human rights blind spot," is expected to improve.

Multiplex CGV has accepted the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) to install at least 1% of seats for disabled viewers in each movie screening room.

Photo by Mun Honam, Asia Economy DB (munonam@)

According to the NHRCK on the 21st, Mr. A, a person with a disability who uses an electric wheelchair, filed a complaint in March 2019 after being refused a reservation because there were no seats for disabled viewers installed in the CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall screening room he visited in January 2019 to watch a movie.

Mr. A and his party had to watch a different movie in a screening room where seats for disabled viewers were installed, contrary to their original plan.

CGV claimed, "Out of the total 3,779 seats in Yongsan I'Park Mall, 39 seats, which correspond to 1.03%, are designated for disabled viewers," and argued that this does not violate the Act on the Promotion of Convenience for the Disabled, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women (Convenience Act for the Disabled, etc.).

However, the NHRCK judged that "not installing seats accessible to disabled persons in individual screening rooms violates the Constitution, the Cultural Standards Act, the Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, and other laws."

Furthermore, the NHRCK recommended to CGV CEO Heo Min-hoe to "install at least 1% of seats accessible to wheelchair users and other disabled persons in each individual movie screening room."

CGV: "Install at least 1% of seats for disabled viewers in each screening room by 2023"

On October 27, CGV responded that it had installed seats for disabled viewers in the screening rooms subject to the complaint. Additionally, it announced plans to install at least 1% of seats for disabled viewers in each individual screening room by the end of 2023.

The installation target includes general screening rooms excluding special theaters among directly operated theaters. Out of 51 nationwide screening rooms without seats for disabled viewers, seats will be sequentially installed in 32 screening rooms where installation is possible. The remaining screening rooms will have seats installed during future renovations.

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