Guide dog to be allowed into National Assembly

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Tue, October 3, 2023 | 06:00

Politics

Guide dog to be allowed into National Assembly

Posted : 2020-04-19 15:57

Updated : 2020-04-20 17:53

Kim Ye-ji, left, the visually impaired candidate of the Future Korea Party, poses with her guide dog Joy and party leader Won Yoo-chul at the party office in Seoul, March 27. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

By Kim Rahn

The incoming 21st 300-strong National Assembly will have one additional, unofficial member ― Joy, the guide dog of Kim Ye-ji, a visually impaired pianist-turned-politician from the Future Korea Party, the satellite party of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP).

Following Kim's joining the Assembly as a lawmaker selected for a proportional representation seat, the National Assembly Secretariat has been looking into relevant regulations on whether to allow the dog to enter the plenary chamber and committee meeting rooms, as animals, even guide dogs, have been banned so far.

The ban was based on a clause in the law on the National Assembly which states an assemblyperson should not bring objects or food that could cause a disturbance into the plenary chamber and committee meeting rooms. Former Rep. Jeong Hwa-won of the Grand National Party, a predecessor of the UFP, who was the nation's first visually challenged lawmaker, was prevented from bringing his guide dog and thus had to get help from his aides when entering the chamber during his term from 2004 to 2008.

Regarding the issue, Kim wrote on Facebook, Saturday, "A guide dog is a companion and a being that plays the role of a blind person's eyes, not an object or food that disturbs meetings."

She continued that the Assembly, which is a place that affects people's lives, should not be limited to just providing relevant "facilities" for the physically disabled. "All members of the Assembly need to share the notion that barrier-free is not just a kind gesture but an obligation."

Other lawmakers and parties have expressed their support for Kim and Joy.

The minor Justice Party issued a statement, Saturday, in support of Kim, saying the Assembly should provide full support so a visually impaired lawmaker can exercise the same rights as other lawmakers without disabilities.

"In the case of Jeong of the 17th Assembly, he had to leave his guide dog and get help from his aides when entering the plenary chamber. We hope the 21st Assembly will be an improvement on the 17th," the statement read.

Rep. Lee Seok-hyun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea also wrote on Facebook, "We don't need discussion about it. The Assembly is not a sacred place; it's just a place where a large number of people gather. So it is natural for the guide dog to be allowed."

Following these reactions, the secretariat said, Monday, it had concluded that allowing the dog would be permissible. But the official announcement of the admission will be announced by the new speaker of the 21st Assembly that will start May 30.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr