Anyang City held a hands-on sign language education session for its public officials Monday.
More than 80 city employees gathered at the situation room on the third floor of City Hall for the first-half disability awareness training.
The session moved away from lecture-based instruction to focus on practical communication skills. Topics covered included sign language and Deaf culture, communication etiquette with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, and basic sign language practice.
Instructor Yu Seul-gi, who has deaf parents, drew on personal experience to convey that sign language is not merely an assistive tool but a complete language with its own grammar system. Officials used the training to learn basic signs applicable in everyday situations and deepen their understanding of the linguistic rights of the deaf community.
"Improving awareness of people with disabilities starts with a small act of attention — acknowledging that difference exists," Anyang Mayor Choi Dae-ho said. "A sincere gesture from a public official is the first step toward inclusive governance that breaks down barriers between the city and its residents."
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