By Hyunjoo Lee, Rotary Club of Jeju Hana
Winters in Korea, particularly on its islands, are made harsher by strong winds that make subzero temperatures feel even more biting. Jeju Island, famously known as “Samdado” (the Island of Three Abundances: wind, rocks, and women), is especially windy, with an average wind speed double that of the mainland. Ahead of this cold season, Rotary members in Jeju took action to address one of the island’s most pressing issues: stray dogs.
At the forefront of this effort is the Rotary Club of Jeju Hana, of which I am a member. Our club of 40 members has made aiding stray dogs, and animal welfare in general, regular parts of our service activities. According to the 2023 Stray Animal Report by the Animal Freedom Coalition, Jeju has the highest rate of stray animal incidents per capita in Korea. Last year alone, 1,866 stray animals were reported. Sadly, 54.1% of them, or 1,010 animals, were euthanized.
These sobering statistics, along with growing public concern and media coverage, made it impossible for us to look away. Recognizing the need for action, our club made stray dogs a new focus of our service efforts. We also clean up coastlines, support elderly care homes, and assist people with disabilities.
Small actions save lives
Since October, club members have been making regular visits to the Hanlim Animal Shelter in Hanlim-eup, Jeju City. Divided into teams of 10, members volunteer every weekend to clean kennels, provide meals, and install winterproofing equipment. These efforts aim to improve the quality of life for the shelter’s dogs.
As winter approached, our focus was on helping these stray dogs survive the harsh conditions. Working outdoors in the freezing wind can be tough. But remembering that even small actions like installing proper insulation can save lives gave us the strength to push through.
Beacon of hope
Our activities go beyond simple volunteer work; they represent a genuine effort to solve a critical community problem. Rotary clubs, being closely tied to their local communities, have a unique ability to identify and address pressing issues as well as inspiring others to act. We’ve been leveraging social media and local media outlets to raise awareness of the stray dog issue.
“At a time when stray dogs are becoming a social concern, someone needs to take action. We hope our service can be a small beacon of hope that drives change in the community.”
Club President Gyeong-jin Soh
We hope our ongoing actions will inspire others to address local challenges and create lasting solutions.
Explore the Rotary Service Project Center to learn about and participate in service activities happening around the world and in your community.
Read this post in Korean on Naver
https://blog.rotary.org/2025/01/15/keeping-stray-dogs-alive-through-harsh-winter-conditions/