The white cane is used by visually handicapped persons around the world as a guide when walking in unfamiliar areas. It was first formally adopted in France during World War I, enabling blind people there to move about safely and efficiently. In 1980, the World Blind Union formally adopted the white cane as its symbol and declarde October 15 as "International White Cane Day". Roughly 17 million people are visually impaired worldwide, including 220 thousand in Korea. The visually impaired bravely seek to lead normal lives despite their challenging circumstances. Although we cannot actually restore sight to blind people, we can make a difference in their lives by helping them to see the world around them. "White Cane Day" is a perfect time to help our visually impaired neighbors see the beauty of the world we share.