📌 Today's term: Kiosk
A kiosk is an unattended touchscreen terminal for information and payment installed in public places such as subway stations, airports, government offices and department stores.
The word grew out of a Persian term for a pavilion and now also covers equipment that provides information or handles orders and payments in place of a person (khan.co.kr).
📰 The latest kiosk issues as of June 11, 2025
✅ 1. Exempting very small businesses from the accessible kiosk requirement
- The government is considering exempting about 5.9 million small business owners from the requirement, due to take effect next January, to install barrier-free kiosks (accessible to people with disabilities) (mk.co.kr).
- The measure weighs two aims: better accessibility for people with disabilities and less burden on the self-employed.
- However, starting the discussion barely seven months before the rule takes effect has drawn criticism as "belated administration" (mk.co.kr).
✅ 2. 80% of the restaurant industry asks for a delay or more support
- In a survey by the Korea Food Service Industry Research Institute, 85% of respondents wanted the requirement postponed and 83% wanted more support (newsis.com).
- Barrier-free kiosks cost 16 to 18 million won, up to three times the price of ordinary models, and installation brings extra costs such as replacing flooring (newsis.com, mk.co.kr).
✅ 3. Government adds a 9.2 billion won budget to spread barrier-free technology
- The Ministry of Science and ICT has launched a 9.2 billion won technology and deployment program to make kiosks easier to use for digitally vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and older adults (theindigo.co.kr).
- It will support 50 small and mid-sized kiosk makers and also upgrade existing machines with braille and voice guidance.
- It also plans to simplify certification to speed up adoption in the field (theindigo.co.kr).
📎 Related articles and links
- "Accessible kiosks" scrapped for very small businesses: about 5.9 million to be excluded from the rule (mk.co.kr)
- 80% of restaurant owners urge a delay and more support: cost and low awareness highlighted (newsis.com)
- Ministry of Science and ICT speeds up barrier-free kiosk rollout: 9.2 billion won program launched (theindigo.co.kr)
✍️ Wrapping up
"Kiosks have become essential everyday infrastructure, but the clash between accessibility for people with disabilities and the real burden on small business owners is growing.
The government is criticized for expanding the scope of the rule while its support budget falls far short.What is needed now is a strategic approach to when, how much and in what way to provide support. Examples include rental options, expanded support from local governments and simpler certification for manufacturers.
Now is the time to watch closely the scope of any delay, the size of support and how quickly certified machines are actually supplied."