Retired guide dog finds new home with president on Christmas

A retired guide dog found an unexpected new home on Christmas Eve, joining the presidential couple and their 10 other pets.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and first lady Kim Keon-hee invite the newest member of the presidential family Saeromi, a retired guide dog, after adopting her from the Samsung Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi, on Saturday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

A retired guide dog found an unexpected new home on Christmas Eve, joining the presidential couple and their 10 other pets.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee adopted nine-year-old Saeromi from Samsung Guide Dog School, in Yongin, Gyeonggi, on Saturday afternoon, said the presidential office.

Saeromi is a female Labrador retriever born in December 2013 who served as a partner for Kim Han-suk, a blind man, for the past six years until her retirement this month.

The adoption ceremony for Saeromi was attended by Kim and the family who raised and trained the dog. Kim removed Saeromi's guide dog vest during the event, signifying her retirement.

Yoon put a retirement vest on Saeromi and first lady Kim placed a flower wreath around the dog's neck to welcome the newest member of their family.

"Among all the gifts I received for Christmas Eve, Saeromi is the one that gives me the greatest joy and happiness," said Yoon. "We call it 'home care for retired dogs' when a guide dog is adopted after retirement, but I believe our family will be made happier and be taken care of by Saeromi instead."

Yoon emphasized the importance of working toward improving public awareness to ensure guide dogs for the visually impaired are not rejected from stores, restaurants or other public places.

"Animals are people's most precious friends," said first lady Kim. "We still often see cases where animals are abused and treated like objects. I will do my best to improve societal awareness so that no animals are abused or hurt."

President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and first lady Kim Keon-hee spends time with dogs training at the Samsung Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi on Saturday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

Saeromi brings the number of pets under the wing of the presidential couple to 11.

Yoon and Kim had already been raising five dogs and five cats in their new presidential residence in Hannam-dong in Yongsan District, central Seoul.

Saeromi met with Sunny, one of the presidential couple's dogs, at the event.

Yoon has said during his presidential campaign that he plans to adopt more retired guide dogs if given the opportunity.

On Jan. 19, Yoon visited the Samsung Guide Dog School and promised to adopt a retired dog who had completed its service. He applied to begin the adoption process soon after taking office in May.

The guide dog school, founded in 1994, is funded by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and trains guide dogs and provides them to the visually impaired free of charge.

On Sunday, the presidential couple attended a Christmas service at Youngarm Presbyterian Church in Seongbuk District, northern Seoul, near Yoon's old elementary school.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]