President Moon: "Sorry for the pain caused to blind school children by rallies and protests"

First Lady Kim Jung-sook Visits Seoul School for the Blind
"Protests and Rallies Despite Being Near the Blue House..."

First Lady Kim Jung-sook is delivering a greeting at the Braille competition held on the 3rd at Seoul School for the Blind in Jongno-gu, Seoul, commemorating the 94th Braille Day under the theme "A World Touched by Fingertips." (Photo by Yonhap News)

First Lady Kim Jung-sook revealed on the 3rd that President Moon Jae-in expressed his apologies, saying that students at a nearby school for the visually impaired are suffering due to noise from protests and gatherings occurring near the Blue House.

On that day, First Lady Kim visited Seoul School for the Blind, a special school for visually impaired students, and said, "When I told them I was coming to the school for the blind today, my husband (President Moon) said, 'I'm very, very sorry. Please be sure to convey that message, and I really wanted to come too,'" conveying his sentiments.

First Lady Kim said, "(Seoul School for the Blind) is very close to the Blue House, but due to various social protests and gatherings, the students are suffering from disruptions to education and transportation, as well as noise that interferes with school activities. I have heard repeatedly that parents have endured this and finally spoke out." She added, "Because we are nearby, we deeply felt the pain caused by the noise and inconveniences, down to our bones." She then said, "So the first words from President Moon were an apology."

The fountain area in front of the Blue House is a place where protests and gatherings by various groups never cease, located about 500 meters in a straight line from Seoul School for the Blind. When large-scale rallies are scheduled in Gwanghwamun, intersections toward the Blue House are sometimes controlled.

First Lady Kim Jung-sook is attending the Braille competition commemorating the 94th Braille Day held on the 3rd at Seoul School for the Blind in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with the theme "A World Touched by Fingertips," encouraging visually impaired students. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Additionally, First Lady Kim offered comfort regarding the difficulties and hardships experienced by students and teachers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said, "In the COVID-19 pandemic situation, students have to be cared for at home and also receive remote education," and added, "Teachers have to protect their health while educating, and the pain of parents and the anxious hearts of teachers are conveyed to me."

She continued, "I want to express my deepest gratitude, but since we must overcome this crisis together wisely, and that wisdom includes patience, I hope everyone can endure together, and I always hope it will end soon."

First Lady Kim Jung-sook is attending the Braille competition held on the 94th Braille Day under the theme "A World Touched by Fingertips" at Seoul School for the Blind in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd, encouraging visually impaired students. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Meanwhile, Seoul School for the Blind, Korea's first special school established in 1913, hosted a Braille Quiz Contest commemorating 'Braille Day,' in which First Lady Kim participated to encourage the students.

First Lady Kim said, "The six dots used in Braille are beautiful points that allow one to see the world through fingertips," and added, "I will strive so that the dreams of the visually impaired are not blocked by obstacles."

She also gifted all students a thermos along with a card inscribed in Braille that read, "There is no place your dreams cannot reach. We support your dreams."

Afterwards, she held a meeting on the topic of learning for visually impaired students amid the COVID-19 situation with Deputy Minister of Education Park Baek-beom, Principal Kim Eun-joo of Seoul School for the Blind, Chairperson Bae In-yong of the school’s operating committee, and Chairperson Kim Kyung-sook of the parents' association.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.