1902 Korea Economic and Cultural Centre for Deaf and Blind

Korea Economic and Cultural Centre
for Deaf and Blind

2019-02-27

http://naenara.com.kp/main/index/en/society

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The Korea Economic and Cultural Centre for Deaf and Blind (KECCDB) is engaged in the work to improve the economic and cultural activities of the deaf and the blind across the country.

The centre was organized in December Juche 101 (2012) as an affiliated body to the Central Committee of the Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled. It has under its control the Deaf Association of Korea, the Blind Association of Korea, the Sign Language Interpreters’ Association of Korea, the Deaf Football Korea and the Wood-processing Workshop of the Deaf.

The centre sets it as its task to thoroughly satisfy the requirements of the laws and regulations of the country, including the Socialist Constitution of the DPRK and the DPRK Law on the Protection of the Person with Disabilities, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to represent the rights and interests of the deaf and the blind and raise the public awareness and concern for them and to encourage them to take active part in social life.

Based on its regional associations in several provinces including South Phyongan, South Hamgyong and Kangwon provinces, it contributes to working out the state policies by making regular surveys and control of the employment, education and culture of the deaf and the blind and is improving their activities through various vocational training.

It regularly organizes meetings and short courses to standardize and disseminate the Korean sign language and runs a deaf kindergarten and trains Korean and international sign language interpreters.

The centre makes efforts to improve educational conditions and living environments of schools for the deaf and the blind and publishes sign language and Braille books.

The Deaf Football Korea was organized in May Juche 103 (2014). Its players and trainees are fully displaying their talents and techniques in international arena with equal status in social activities.

The Wood-processing Workshop of the Deaf turns out various fixtures and building parts, and receives orders and installs its products on the spot.

The centre is vigorously conducting exchange and cooperation with international bodies, including the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).

It made an agreement with the WFD in Helsinki of Finland in 2012 and discussed a four-year action plan and successfully ensured its implementation.


It also discussed the second four-year action plan with the WFD in May 2016 when the latter paid a visit to the DPRK.

The centre sponsors various activities to commemorate the International Week of the Deaf in September every year.

The World Deaf Tourism makes a visit to the DPRK at regular intervals.

The WFD stations its branch in the capital city of Pyongyang.

Ro Kyong Su, director of the KECCDB, said that the centre makes efforts to provide the deaf and the blind with equal opportunity and participation in social activities and international arena, and plans to enforce integrated education.