Yesterday (16th), when the results of the voting for the proportional representatives of the 21st general election were finalized, the first visually impaired female parliamentarian was born, and attention was paid to whether or not a guide dog would enter the main assembly hall.

Prof. Kim Ye-ji, a proportional representative of the future Korean Party, who entered the National Assembly, is a person known as a 'visually impaired pianist'.

'Dr. Joy', a guide dog to help walking, is always with Kim Dong-in, who has trouble with his eyes.

On the 1st of last week, Joy received attention during the National Assembly event, including the Joint Declaration of 'Saving the Nation and Saving the Economy' of the Future United Party and the Future Korean Party held on the stairs in front of the main building of the National Assembly.

The issue is after May 31, when the 21st National Assembly term began.

When Kim Dang-in enters the full-scale legislative act as a member of the Assembly, he has to enter and exit the main assembly hall and the standing committee meetings from time to time, and the National Assembly routinely prevents access to guide dogs to these places.

Former Grand National Party member Jung Jung-won, the first member of the National Assembly who was elected during the 17th general election in 2004, tried to enter the main meeting room with a guide dog at the time.

However, when the National Assembly responded negatively, Assemblyman Chung gave up on this and said that whenever he attended the plenary, he held onto the arm of the aide or secretary and moved to his seat.

The National Assembly is in a position to review the support needed for the election process of President-elect Kim, including whether or not the guide dog 'Joy' will enter the main meeting hall.

An official from the Bureau of State Affairs said in a media call, "There are no explicit provisions regarding animal access to the venue, but there is a provision in the National Assembly law that you should not bring anything or food that interferes with the meeting" .

In addition, he explained, "We are going to review cases involving guide dogs and acting in court."

The official added, "It is not just a matter of access to the guide dog, but we will discuss directly with President Kim how he can do activities such as remarks, discussions, and voting in the main meeting room and what he needs." 

(Photo = Yonhap News)