Guide Dog School Celebrates 32nd Anniversary on August 26
Founded in 1993 Following Chairman Lee Kunhee’s “New Management” Vision
308 Guide Dogs Placed Over 32 Years
Despite the sudden downpour, Gori, a four-year-old guide dog, remained calm. During a walking experience, when the reporter-blindfolded-encountered an obstacle, Gori stopped. Only after receiving a signal to go right did Gori lead the way around the obstacle and resume the path. After about 30 steps, upon reaching a staircase, Gori slowed down and gradually came to a halt. When prompted, Gori climbed just one step and stopped again, signaling caution as the stairs began. The same careful approach was taken when descending. Gori safely guided the way around overhead obstacles and arrived at the destination.
On the 26th, the demonstration guide dog "Gori" is resting at the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Donghyun Choi
On August 26, at the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, dozens of guide dogs, including Gori, were living together. All the dogs were Labrador Retrievers, known for their gentle nature and friendliness toward people. The school housed a wide range of dogs, from innocent puppies just starting their training to mature adult dogs nearing graduation.
The Samsung Guide Dog School was established in September 1993, three months after the late Lee Kunhee, former Chairman of Samsung Group, declared the company's "New Management" initiative in June. Lee Kunhee placed special emphasis on social contribution projects as the first step toward transforming Samsung into a world-class company. In his unpublished essay "Conversations with Small Things," Lee Kunhee wrote, "Samsung raises dogs to improve the welfare of people with disabilities and to try to change people's character. The reason for these efforts is so that, as they spread throughout society, the consciousness of our entire nation can be elevated to a higher level."
At the time of its founding, there were no precedents of companies operating guide dog schools. Even the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) had no bylaws regarding company-run guide dog schools. However, recognizing Samsung's genuine commitment to the guide dog program, the IGDF revised its regulations in 1999, officially certifying the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School as a guide dog training institution and granting it full membership. To this day, Samsung remains the only company in the world to operate a guide dog school.
The late Lee Kunhee, Chairman of Samsung Group, is interacting with a guide dog at the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School, established in 1993. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance
The guide dogs raised at the school go through different training processes based on their life stages. First, male and female Labrador Retrievers with the most suitable temperament and health are selected as breeding dogs. Through breeding, about 50 puppies are born each year. When they reach three months of age, they begin about a year of "puppy walking." Puppy walking is a volunteer program in which puppies are raised in regular households to help them socialize and prepare for their future as guide dogs. After completing puppy walking, the dogs undergo comprehensive evaluations, including health checks and temperament assessments, before entering six to eight months of intensive guide dog training. At around 23 months, partner matching takes place, considering the personality, occupation, and walking speed of the visually impaired individual. After a month of joint training with their partner, the dogs participate in a placement ceremony and begin their official work as guide dogs.
Since the first guide dog "Bada" in 1994, the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School has placed around 15 guide dogs each year. Over the past 32 years, 308 guide dogs have been placed, and currently, 85 are actively working.
The dedication of volunteers has played a significant role in raising guide dogs. Guide dogs require continuous care and support from people throughout more than ten years, including about two years of training, seven to eight years of active service, and retirement care. More than 2,800 households have participated in volunteer activities such as puppy walking and caring for retired guide dogs.
On this day, the school held a ceremony to mark its 32nd anniversary. The event included both a guide dog placement ceremony and a retirement ceremony. Attendees included puppy walkers, visually impaired partners, families who adopted retired dogs, trainers from the guide dog school, and others who have been part of the dogs' entire lives. Some puppy walker volunteers were moved to tears as they watched the puppies they raised begin new lives as guide dogs with their visually impaired partners. Assemblywoman Kim Yeji of the People Power Party, herself a visually impaired partner, Assemblywoman Lee Yeonhee of the Democratic Party, and Lee Munhwa, President of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, also attended the ceremony.
President Lee stated, "The 32 years of the Guide Dog School have been possible thanks to the unified efforts of volunteers, the government, local governments, and all members of our society. We will continue working to improve the social environment and awareness, so that visually impaired partners and guide dogs can live without inconvenience as members of our society."
At Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Guide Dog School, guide dog candidates are having their photos taken. Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance
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