Due to Regional Characteristics, High Risk of Missing Persons
Number of Search Dog Deployments Among the Highest Nationwide
Plan to Increase Search Dogs from Two to Three
The nation's first police search dog center has opened in Naju, Jeollanam-do.
The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency announced on April 23 that it has established the "Jeonnam Search Dog Center" in Bonghwang-myeon, Naju, to support missing person searches and disaster response.
Jeollanam-do is an area with a high risk of missing persons due to its vast forested regions and long coastline. In particular, the province has a high proportion of elderly residents and many remote villages, making rapid initial response critical to saving lives. As a result, securing independent rescue capabilities is essential.
In fact, as of last year, Jeollanam-do accounted for 12.9% (49 cases) of the total 378 deployments of forensic search dogs nationwide, the highest number of deployments in the country.
To maximize the effectiveness of search dogs, the Jeonnam police have been working to establish the search dog center. The plan for the center was formulated around December 2023, and the project gained momentum after being selected as the top priority in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's special grant program. After approximately one year and six months of construction, the search dog center was recently completed. The new center has increased the number of search dogs from two to three and now has its own kennel facilities.
The establishment of the Jeonnam Search Dog Center is the first case in the country where the police and the Jeollanam-do provincial government have cooperated on such a project.
Mo Sangmyo, Chief of the Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency, stated, "With the establishment of the Jeonnam Search Dog Center, we will do our utmost to protect the safety and daily lives of residents by safeguarding the golden time not only in missing person searches but also at various disaster sites."
The Jeonnam Search Dog Center serves as a life-saving network created by both people and search dogs. In particular, the center plans to establish a training system that includes not only regular training for the search dogs but also joint drills with local related organizations, thereby preparing for real-life situations.
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