[Photo] Jung Wono, Seongdong District Mayor, Gives Gift to Guide Dog ‘Banji’ on World Guide Dog Day

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, is giving a gift to the guide dog "Banji" for the visually impaired on the 28th in celebration of World Guide Dog Day.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 28th, Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, presented a congratulatory gift to 'Banji,' a guide dog for the visually impaired working inside the Seongdong-gu Office, in celebration of World Guide Dog Day.

World Guide Dog Day is a commemorative day designated by the International Guide Dog Federation, observed annually on the last Wednesday of April, which falls on April 28 this year.

'Banji' is a guide dog for a visually impaired public official affiliated with the district.

At the end of last year, when a controversy arose over a large supermarket blocking the entry of guide dogs, the district appointed 'Banji' as an honorary public official, leading efforts to raise awareness that assistance dogs for the visually, hearing, and physically impaired can enter any place.

Additionally, at that time, the district office and other public institutions, as well as popular spots in Seongsu-dong, attached Braille stickers saying "Guide Dogs Welcome" on a trial basis. Starting this month, the program has expanded to include public institutions, lodging facilities, and food service establishments, receiving over 40 applications within three weeks.

There are plans to gradually expand the program to include food service establishments, private companies, banks, hospitals, and supermarkets.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, "Guide dogs for the visually impaired serve as the eyes and ears of their users and accompany their lives, so it is important to view them warmly. We all must strive to change perceptions toward guide dogs."

Last November, the district distributed 'Smart Insoles' equipped with IoT services featuring GPS functionality to 40 people with developmental disabilities to prepare for missing persons cases. This month, the district also enacted the Seongdong-gu Ordinance to Support the Convenience of Life for Assistance Dogs for the Disabled, making every effort to create a "safe and convenient city for people with disabilities."

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