[Edaily Reporter Kim Se-yeon ] “Gori, forward!”
A Labrador Retriever quickens its pace in response to commands from its visually impaired partner. When it pauses briefly at a fork in the road, the command “To the left” is given. The retriever skillfully guides its partner, standing beside it, onto the safe sidewalk. Even when an obstacle appears, it deftly steps aside and returns to the safe sidewalk. Even on stairs, a simple “Good job” is all it takes for it to guide its owner effortlessly. This is none other than “Gori,” a veteran guide dog from the #SamsungFire&MarineInsurance Guide Dog School.

On the 27th, at the SamsungFire&MarineInsurance Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, a demonstration of a visually impaired person walking in sync with a guide dog was held prior to the school’s 33rd anniversary ceremony. Yoo Seok-jong, a professional who has spent 21 years at the guide dog school, explained, “The difficulty visually impaired people face when walking isn’t because they don’t know their destination, but because of the countless obstacles along the way.” He added, “The visually impaired partner acts as the navigator, while the guide dog functions like a self-driving car equipped with sensors.”
The guide dogs “Gori” and “Miso,” whom we met at the event, looked absolutely delighted. They would stare intently at the trainer’s hand holding a treat and wagged their tails excitedly at the slightest touch from reporters on site. They were in excellent spirits, even demonstrating a special trick where they exchanged nods with their handlers. When guiding a Saramin wearing a blindfold during the walking experience, they walked even more slowly than usual to match the pace of their unfamiliar partner. After the experience ended and they received praise and treats, they wagged their tails like propellers before immediately lying down on the floor and exposing their bellies.

When asked why guide dogs are happy, Pro Yoo joked, “Guide dogs don’t think, ‘I have to work,’ but rather, ‘Something good will happen when I go outside with my owner,’ which is why they fulfill their roles,” adding, “I don’t even know how much I fawn over Misoo (Pro Yoo’s partner guide dog).” He continued, “Guide dogs never spend a single moment apart from their owners—24 hours a day. Since they stay right by their owners’ sides, go everywhere with them, and are fed properly, there’s no reason their survival rate would be low.” Pro Yoo, who is visually impaired, has now been living with a guide dog for 25 years.

SamsungFire&MarineInsurance’s guide dog program originated from the late Chairman Lee Kun-Hee’s philosophy on welfare for people with disabilities. Established in 1993, the SamsungFire&MarineInsurance Guide Dog School has provided a total of 320 guide dogs free of charge to visually impaired individuals over the past 33 years, beginning with its first guide dog, “Bada,” the following year. The guide dog training success rate hovers around 35%, and the school trains approximately 15 guide dogs annually. Furthermore, by providing education for visually impaired partners and conducting awareness campaigns, the school takes full responsibility for the dogs’ entire lifespans—from birth through retirement.
Visually impaired partners and their guide dogs have a positive impact on one another. Guide dogs live alongside their partners, receiving love and attention from them. Visually impaired individuals gain confidence and a sense of independence by moving around without relying on others. By giving directions to their guide dogs and engaging in outdoor activities together, they also find an opportunity to channel the energy that had been suppressed since losing their sight back into the world.
At the 33rd-anniversary ceremony held that day, Lee Mun-hwa, President of SamsungFire&MarineInsurance, defined the initiative as follows: “(The guide dog school) is not merely a social contribution activity. It is a project that serves as a steadfast step in the daily lives of people with visual impairments, accompanying them on their precious life journeys and transforming our society for the better.”
Kim Ye-ji, a member of the National Assembly from the People Power Party, who attended the ceremony with her guide dog Taebaek, promised, “I will continue to stand in solidarity with you in the National Assembly so that you can move about and live freely and safely anywhere with your guide dogs.”