▲ This 'Beyond Barriers' campaign image is provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- Netflix has published a Korean-language casebook outlining its barrier-free accessibility efforts, the company said Wednesday, stressing its commitment to ensuring that all viewers can enjoy entertainment without restrictions.

 

Barrier-free content refers to works designed to be inclusive for people with disabilities, such as adding audio descriptions for the visually impaired and captions for the hearing impaired.

 

Comedian Lee Dong-woo, who is visually impaired, highlighted the value of such services, recalling a personal experience. “Someone once carefully described and read out a donkey that appeared in a Chagall painting. Since that day, that donkey has always stayed with me,” he said. “If a platform can deliver this kind of experience to more people, it would be truly remarkable.”

 

Lee, along with fellow comedian Kim Kyung-sik, has participated as a narrator providing audio descriptions for Netflix variety shows. “When I encounter content with barrier-free services, I feel like I can breathe a little easier,” he said. “The difference between having and not having such services is like heaven and earth.”

 

The newly released casebook details Netflix’s main accessibility features, user feedback, and subsequent improvements. It is also available in audiobook form. It includes contributions from creators like Lee and Kim, as well as testimonials from users sharing their experiences with barrier-free content.

 

Patrick Fleming, Netflix’s senior director of product management, said, “Regardless of language or ability, every member deserves the best entertainment experience. Our goal is to make sure every member can press ‘play’ and immerse themselves in a story, knowing it has been carefully designed for them.”

 

Most barrier-free production work is outsourced, with Netflix providing detailed guidelines to ensure consistency. The guidelines address sensitive issues, such as whether to use outdated or potentially offensive expressions, and are tailored for each language and cultural context.

 

Kim Ha-eun, Netflix’s language manager, said, “Since hundreds or even thousands of people may participate in the process, maintaining quality requires precise guidelines. We have language-specific guidelines, sensitivity guidelines, and ones that account for local context.”

 

Currently, only a portion of Netflix’s content includes audio descriptions and captions, but the company is seeking ways to expand these features to all programming.

 

Elisa Bennier, manager of the dubbing strategy and innovation team, said the goal is to make barrier-free approaches the industry standard rather than an exception. “It requires technical and creative challenges, but we are overcoming them step by step,” she said.

 

Lee Young-hee, adjunct professor of media and communication at Hanyang University, stressed the importance of accessibility as cultural infrastructure. “Media accessibility should not be treated as a ‘special service’ but as a natural part of cultural life,” she said.

 

“If people with and without disabilities can laugh and cry together in front of a screen where captions and audio descriptions are the norm, that will truly show Korea’s dignity as a cultural powerhouse,” she added.

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