Yoon Adopts Retired Guide Dog Saerom: "Let's Work to Improve Awareness of Guide Dogs"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Seoyul] President Yoon Suk-yeol has added an eleventh animal family member to the Blue House by adopting another retired guide dog.

On the 24th, Lee Jae-myung, deputy spokesperson of the Presidential Office, stated in a written briefing that President Yoon and his wife adopted Saerom, a retired guide dog, from the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, that afternoon.

During his presidential campaign on January 19, President Yoon visited the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School and promised, "If elected, I will adopt and care for a guide dog that has completed its service."

Saerom is a female Labrador Retriever born in December 2013 who served as a guide dog for visually impaired Kim Han-sook for six years, from 2016 until this month. On this day, Kim removed Saerom’s guide dog vest, officially retiring her from guide dog duties.

President Yoon dressed Saerom in a retired dog vest, and First Lady Kim Geon-hee placed a flower necklace on her, celebrating Saerom’s six years of service as a guide dog.

President Yoon said, "Saerom is the greatest joy and happiness among the gifts I received on Christmas Eve," adding, "The adoption of a guide dog after retirement is called 'retired dog home care,' and rather, our family will receive care from Saerom and become happier."

He continued, "Let us all work together to improve public awareness so that guide dogs for the visually impaired are not refused entry to stores or public places," emphasizing the protection of disability rights and animal rights by saying, "I hope the campaign to post 'Guide Dogs Welcome' signs in stores spreads nationwide."

First Lady Kim said, "Today, I once again felt that animals are humans’ most precious friends," and added, "I will do my utmost to improve societal awareness so that no animals are abused or hurt."

With the adoption of Saerom, President Yoon and his wife now live in the Blue House with six dogs and five cats.