A study on the current status and strategies for improvement of web accessibility compliance of public institutions

Background: The circulation of information through the Internet allows us to promptly and conveniently deliver information. However, it is also causing a simultaneous occurrence of digital information gap and cultural lag phenomena. The gap in the ability to freely access and use Web site contents using the Internet is affecting not only the digital information gap, it also affects the competitiveness of individuals. In Korea, pursuant to Article 21 of the "Act on the Prohibition of the Discrimination against the Disabled and the Relief of their Rights" and Article 14 of its enforcement ordinances enforced from 2008, Web-accessibility compliance for each agency has been gradually made mandatory. Even if a Web-accessibility certification mark has been obtained, some Web sites are involved in legal disputes because of their violation of the Anti-Discrimination Act for the Disabled, which has been recently enforced. Methods: This study examines the actual situation of the compliance by conducting web accessibility assessment. 25 websites among the Korean public institutions in the science and technology field were selected and were assessed manually according to KWCAG 2.0. Results: According to experts assessments using web accessibility requirement of KWCAG 2.0, "Perceivable" shows the highest compliance rate (68 %). "Operable," "understandable," or "Robust" shows the compliance rates of 64.5 %, 59.2 %, and 28.0 % respectively. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, some suggestions are presented to improve web accessibility compliance of the sites that received a web-accessibility certification mark from the National Information Society Agency in Korea.