- Production of the first 3D Braille Globe in Korea, Renewal of Braille Maps of South Korea and the World

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister Park Sang-woo) and the National Geographic Information Institute (Director Cho Woo-seok) will provide a 3D Braille globe, Braille maps of South Korea and the world, the Busan Metropolitan City subway routes, and Braille guide maps for seven national parks starting from the 17th of this month, in celebration of the Disabled Persons' Day on April 20.

The features of the maps produced this time are as follows:

The '3D Braille Globe' is the first in Korea to express key information necessary for global geography education, such as world continents, coastal boundaries, the International Date Line, longitude, latitude, the North Pole, and the South Pole, in a three-dimensional manner through 3D modeling. It is designed to allow visually impaired students to intuitively understand the shape of the Earth through touch. It is produced in two forms: a basic educational model (30 cm in diameter) and a large exhibition model (100 cm in diameter).

The 'Braille Maps of South Korea and the World' have been updated by reflecting the latest information on the existing maps created between 2016 and 2017. To enhance accessibility for visually impaired individuals, an information pattern (QR code) that allows listening to the overall map description in audio has been inserted.

Additionally, the 'Braille Guide Map of Busan Metropolitan City Subway Routes,' which was last produced in 24 years ago, has been newly created by adding a transfer station map between lines (Busan Station Line 1-3).

This map is planned to be placed not only in visual impairment-related organizations in the Busan area but also at major subway stations in Busan in collaboration with the Busan Transportation Corporation.

Furthermore, the National Geographic Information Institute has collaborated with the Korea National Park Service to produce 'Braille Guide Maps of National Parks' to help visually impaired individuals utilize spatial information more safely and conveniently in their daily lives.

The maps to be distributed this time have been produced based on on-site surveys and feedback from users and experts for seven national parks including Gyeongju, Bukhansan, Seoraksan, Sobaksan, Chiaksan, Taebaeksan, and Palgongsan. They provide information on the park's location, facilities, hiking trails, difficulty levels, and representative biological resources of each national park.

These maps will be distributed for free at the seven national park visitor centers and are expected to be utilized in various fields such as the National Park Ecological Welfare Service Program.

The '3D Braille Globe,' 'Braille Maps of South Korea and the World,' 'Braille Guide Map of Busan Metropolitan City Subway Routes,' and 'Braille Guide Maps of National Parks' can be downloaded for free by anyone from the National Geographic Information Institute's National Geographic Information Platform (https://map.ngii.go.kr) starting from the 17th and can be utilized.