Visit to Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School on the 20th
Started right after Samsung's 'New Management' declaration in 1993
1 dog costs 100 million KRW and takes 2 years... Total 267 dogs distributed
"Beyond social contribution, full effort for awareness improvement"
On the 20th, at the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School located in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, the guide dog 'Jini' is undergoing a walking test. Photo by Han Yeju
[Yongin=Asia Economy Reporter Han Yeju] When the stairs appeared, the guide dog 'Jini' stopped walking. Only after the reporter, whose eyes were completely covered with a blindfold, gestured to go up did Jini start moving again. Although the stairs were short, Jini did not rush. Matching the pace of the newly met friend, Jini slowly climbed the steps one by one.
One year of puppy walking, 6 to 8 months of training, and one month of education for the visually impaired. This is the training period required for Jini to fulfill the role of a guide dog. The cost is also considerable. Approximately 100 million KRW is spent per dog. At the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School, 12 to 15 guide dogs like Jini are provided free of charge every year. Having distributed a total of 267 dogs so far means at least 26.7 billion KRW has been spent. However, the social impact of Samsung is estimated to be worth several hundred billion KRW. This is because it has given visually impaired people the opportunity to live independently and be members of society.
The Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School, which we visited on the 20th, was established in September 1993 according to the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee's wishes. It has now become the only full member organization of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) in Korea, nurturing guide dogs for 29 years. At the time, Chairman Lee Kun-hee emphasized, "It costs $100,000 to make one guide dog. No matter how expensive, we must bring the best trainers from abroad and produce a few dogs in Yongin," and thus established the guide dog school in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
Along with breeding guide dogs, the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School has been working to eliminate discrimination against guide dogs. They have conducted 'visual impairment experience' programs with not only the visually impaired but also volunteers, and campaigns encouraging the use of public transportation with guide dogs. As a result, the government and the National Assembly have also joined efforts to improve welfare for the disabled. Since 1999, provisions related to assistance dogs have been introduced in the 'Welfare of Disabled Persons Act,' stipulating that visually impaired people accompanied by guide dogs cannot be unjustly refused access to taxis, buses, restaurants, hotels, and other public places. Institutional changes have also followed. In 2012, the law was amended to grant trainers and puppy walking volunteers equal legal status with their visually impaired partners when using convenience facilities and public transportation for training and socialization purposes, greatly improving the environment for guide dog breeding. (Welfare of Disabled Persons Act, Article 40)
On the 20th, a prospective guide dog at the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Han Yeju
Various other attempts have also been continuously made. During the 2002 World Cup, to show that visually impaired people could also feel and enjoy the excitement of the World Cup and to dispel misconceptions about guide dogs, 10 visually impaired people and their guide dogs were invited to the USA-Poland match held at the Daejeon World Cup Stadium. In the same year, during the torch relay of the Busan Asian Games, solely sponsored by Samsung Electronics, three visually impaired people participated with their guide dogs, attracting attention.
A Samsung official said, "Guide dogs are now recognized as a social public good beyond corporate social responsibility. Voluntary efforts are being made to establish guide dog culture in many areas of society," adding, "Samsung will continue the guide dog breeding project, which has been the 'eyes,' family, and partner of visually impaired people for the past 29 years, and will make various efforts to improve related social awareness." In particular, Samsung plans to collaborate with NGOs to ensure higher fairness in beneficiary selection and to hold the 'World Guide Dog Day' event every year on the last Wednesday of April to promote awareness.
Meanwhile, on this day, the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School held the event 'Walking Together Toward Tomorrow,' supporting the new start of new guide dogs and graduated guide dogs. Hong Wonhak, CEO of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, said at the event, "The guide dog project has supported a better life for the visually impaired and changed social perceptions of guide dogs over 29 years through the interest and efforts of all members of our society," and added, "We will continue to work harder to improve the social environment and awareness for a world where guide dogs and their partners live together."
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