Kim Ye-ji "Guide dogs are the eyes of the visually impaired, a thank you from the Justice Party who share the same purpose"

On the 1st, the guide dog 'Joy' sat next to candidate Kim Ye-ji attending the Future Korea Party election strategy meeting held at the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Kim Yeji, a visually impaired pianist elected as a proportional representative of the Future Korea Party, stated on the 19th, "Guide dogs are the eyes of visually impaired people, and raising issues about them threatens the level of social security concerning the rights and safety of all visually impaired people in the Republic of Korea."

In a statement released that day, Kim said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the Justice Party and Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Seok-hyun, who shared the intention to create a National Assembly free from discrimination against disabilities." Earlier, the Justice Party stated in a commentary that "the National Assembly Secretariat must guarantee the entry of Kim's guide dog into the National Assembly plenary hall." Lawmaker Lee also expressed the opinion that guide dogs should be allowed entry.

The controversy over the entry of guide dogs assisting visually impaired people into the National Assembly arose after it became known that the National Assembly Secretariat had traditionally blocked guide dogs from entering the plenary hall and standing committee meeting rooms. The Secretariat has prohibited the entry of guide dogs based on Article 148 of the National Assembly Act, which states, "No objects or food that interfere with the progress of the meeting shall be brought into the meeting hall."

In response, during the 17th National Assembly in 2004, Jeong Hwa-won, then a member of the Hannara Party with visual impairment, conducted legislative activities with the help of aides or secretaries instead of a guide dog.

Kim said, "Raising this issue is not discrimination against one member of the National Assembly but threatens the level of social security concerning the rights and safety of all visually impaired people in the Republic of Korea," adding, "If discrimination continues under the pretext of tradition and decisions are made that infringe on the rights of disabled people through incorrect interpretation of regulations, I will never accept it under any circumstances."

Earlier, Kim had stated, "I cannot help but raise the issue that the entry of guide dogs into the National Assembly plenary hall has become a subject of controversy," emphasizing, "The National Assembly should be a starting point for changing perceptions about disabled people and a space to produce social issues and share concerns together. Barrier-free in the National Assembly is not a courtesy but an obligation."

She also said, "I believe the National Assembly Secretariat is at the stage of exploring possible methods. I heard from the responsible department that Joy (the guide dog) is naturally allowed entry and that they are considering how to provide more convenience."