National Human Rights Commission of the Republic of Korea
Minister also announced that the evaluation on the use of physical restriction measures,
and the appropriateness of confinement and constraint imposition would be included
in certificating medical institutions from January 2015, while ensuring the proper
use of such measures in medical institutions through monitoring.
C. Recommendation concerning Seats for Persons with Disabilities
to Ensure their Right to Culture
Pursuant to Article 2, Attached Form 1-20 A of the Enforcement Regulations of
the Act on the Guarantee of the Promotion of Convenience of the Disabled, the Aged,
Pregnant Women, etc., seats or cubicle areas, which are wheelchair accessible in a
theater or concert hall should be placed where they are easily accessible to exit or
evacuation passages.
However, the above provision does not include whether or not such wheelchair seats
should have a proper view of the stage or screen or whether a companion not confined
to a wheelchair can sit by their side. In response to several complaints about this
issue filed to the Commission, it reviewed similar provisions in the U.S. and Germany
and relevant surveys of civil society organizations. It also made on-site investigations
of theaters and concert halls with wheelchair accessible seats.
Based on the review, the Commission recommended the Minister of Health and Welfare
to revise the provision about seats for persons with disabilities to say, “Seats or cubicle
areas for wheelchair users should be placed where the user has the equal view of the
stage or screen with the rest audience and can sit with his or her companion. The
location should be easily accessible to exit or evacuation passages” on June 2, 2014.
The Minister accepted the recommendation and agreed to revise the Enforcement Decree
of the Act on the Guarantee of the Promotion of Convenience of the Disabled, the Aged,
Chapter 1. Improvement of Laws, Regulations, Institutions, Policies and Practices ▪▪▪ 31