Gyeonggi Province Seeks New Families for Three Retired National Service Military Dogs

Gyeonggi Province to Support Medical Expenses and Insurance for Adopted Retired Military Dogs
Preparing a "Second Life" for Dogs at Banryeo Maru in Yeoju

Three military dogs that served in the Army as detection dogs and reconnaissance assistant dogs have retired and will now spend the rest of their lives at Banryeo Maru in Yeoju. After completing health checkups and other procedures, these military dogs will be made available for adoption by the general public.

A retired military dog is living at Banryeomaru in Yeoju, waiting for a new family. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 9th that on the 5th it had brought three retired national service animals from the Army Military Dog Training Center and will provide protection, management, and adoption support for them.

This is the third time that Banryeo Maru in Yeoju has taken in military dogs. Of the four military dogs that had previously been staying at Banryeo Maru in Yeoju, three have been adopted. The remaining one, now 12 years old, continues to live there while receiving ongoing health care.

The three newly arrived military dogs at Banryeo Maru in Yeoju are named Pureun, Yeomto, and Kiwi. In order, they are a Retriever, a mixed-breed Shepherd, and a Malinois. They are retired military dogs and non-operational dogs.

Pureun, who is 9 years old this year, carried out detection dog duties as an operational reserve dog. Yeomto, who is turning 8 this year, served as a non-operational training dog and worked as a guard assistant dog. Kiwi is still only 2 years old and is a non-operational puppy. Because military dogs receive intensive training in focus, obedience, and scent work and perform missions alongside soldiers, they tend to be highly sociable with people, are relatively easy to provide with additional training, and are generally obedient during walks and outings.

Pureun already has a prospective adoptive family, and after undergoing basic health examinations and life-training at Banryeo Maru in Yeoju, will move to a new home.

Banryeo Maru in Yeoju plans to maintain an ongoing cooperative relationship with the Military Dog Training Center. If the three retired dogs currently under its care are adopted, it will continue to take in additional retired dogs and provide them with living space. In addition, for adopters, it will arrange enrollment in a safety insurance plan and provide support for medical, care, and funeral expenses.

As Gyeonggi Province's flagship companion animal multi-cultural complex, Banryeo Maru in Yeoju not only supports the adoption of stray animals from cities and counties, but also protects 583 dogs rescued from a breeding facility in Hwaseong in 2023 and 57 dogs rescued from wildfire damage in North Gyeongsang Province in 2025, and is regarded as a model case of animal welfare. The province expects that its cooperation with the Military Dog Training Center will also help improve post-retirement management of national service animals and address blind spots in animal welfare.

Those who wish to adopt or temporarily foster an animal protected at Banryeo Maru, or who are interested in volunteering, can apply through the Gyeonggi Province Animal Protection and Welfare Platform (animal.gg.go.kr) or via the Banryeo Maru Yeoju website.

Lee Kangyoung, Director General of Livestock and Animal Welfare at Gyeonggi Province, said, "Our society has a duty to support national service animals and to take responsibility for their treatment after retirement," adding, "Gyeonggi Province will continue to seek out and implement ways to support social service animals."

Meanwhile, Banryeo Maru in Yeoju not only protects and facilitates the adoption of abandoned, rescued, and service animals, but also operates an in-house animal hospital and runs year-round regular programs and events, including etiquette, sports, behavior correction, animal-assisted interaction, grooming for daily care, professional vocational training related to companion animals, and career experience programs for children and students. Starting this spring, it plans to refurbish its outdoor playgrounds, exercise areas, and rest spaces for companion animals to provide an even richer and more welcoming environment.

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