• Informatization Policy
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.42-58
• /
• 2011

This paper starts from one question: what are the key factors of the web accessibility policy, which is significant for realizing equity in the web and enhancing human dignity in the information society. To find significant factors for complying with web accessibility, this paper analyzes panel data of 16 Korean local governments (for five years: 2004-2009) according to the research design which is based on the demand and supply balance model and consists of four variables : 'legal and institutional environment (including legal infrastructure)', 'financial foundation (fiscal self-reliance ratio)', 'policy inputs (amount of imformatization budget, employee of information experts)'and 'policy demand (internet usage rate, the number of disabled people and elderly people)'. From the results of this study, this paper can explain the mechanism and impact factors on the web accessibility policy of Korean local governments. Some factors are critical to improve web accessibility: (1) the importance of policy demand, (2) the importance of policy inputs, (3) the importance of legal and institutional environment. Finally, this paper concludes with some suggestions to enhance the web accessibility capacity for Korean local governments: (1) improve awareness on web accessibility, (2) develop a standard and invest R&D on web accessibility, (3) foster experts in web accessibility.