'300 Million Won Fine for Refusing Entry to Service Dogs for Disabled'... Yongin City Produces Braille Signboards

The Braille sign "Guide Dogs for the Disabled Welcome" produced and distributed by Yongin City to 100 government offices. Photo by Yongin City Hall

[Asia Economy (Yongin) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province has produced and distributed braille signboards with the message "Guide Dogs for the Disabled Are Welcome" to 100 public institutions in the area to improve awareness of assistance dogs for people with disabilities.

According to the Disabled Welfare Act, assistance dogs for people with disabilities are allowed to enter public transportation, public places, lodging facilities, and food service establishments, but many places restrict access due to lack of awareness.

In particular, there are frequent cases where trainers or volunteers (so-called "puppy walkers") of assistance dogs for people with disabilities are denied entry along with the guide dogs in training.

Accordingly, Yongin City decided to first attach braille signboards engraved with the phrase "Guide Dogs Are Welcome" and an icon visualizing a guide dog on square frame panels measuring 12cm by 12cm to 100 public institutions in the area.

Assistance dogs for people with disabilities include not only guide dogs for the visually impaired but also hearing assistance dogs (bochung dogs) for the hearing impaired, mobility assistance dogs, and therapy helper dogs.

With the assistance dog sign, they can use restaurants, cafes, public transportation, lodging facilities, and marts. If access is denied to an assistance dog without justifiable reason, a fine of up to 3 million won may be imposed.

A city official said, "Assistance dogs for people with disabilities are grateful companions who become the eyes, ears, and feet of people with disabilities," and added, "We hope a culture of consideration that looks at people with disabilities and assistance dogs with warmer eyes will be established."

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