[Anchor]

Chungseong, a 119 rescue dog who saved 16 lives over seven years at disaster sites, retired today. While artificial intelligence and drone technologies are advancing, it is not easy to replace the keen sense of hearing and smell of a rescue dog. With Chungseong's departure, there are now only 40 rescue dogs left across the country.

KNN reporter Jo Jin-wook has the report.

[Reporter]

Whether on a helicopter or in the dark mountains, Chungseong was always reliable.

At disaster sites, he was more of an expert than anyone else.

Over seven years, he was deployed to 281 scenes and rescued 16 people.

[Survivor: It had been about an hour and a half since I got lost. I was crying out of fear. I heard the sound of the bell on Chungseong's collar first, and that was when I thought, I am saved. I have survived a life-threatening situation.]

Even with the development of AI and the introduction of cutting-edge technology like drones, rescue dogs with their superior sense of smell and hearing remain irreplaceable.

[Song Woo-young / Busan Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters 119 Special Response Team: A single rescue dog has the search capability of about 30 people. I don't think there is any equipment that can replace them, and I hope there will be more rescue dogs in the future.]

Now, Chungseong is leaving the disaster scene behind.

At 11 years old, he is already a senior dog and will spend the rest of his life with a new owner.

[Yoon Moon-ja / Chungseong's new guardian: He is like a second child to me. Chungseong has sacrificed so much for people all this time. I need to repay him for that.]

There are now only 40 rescue dogs remaining nationwide.

Chungseong, who found a new owner after retirement, is considered one of the lucky ones.

There are as many as 1,300 service animals that have dedicated their lives to the nation like Chungseong.

About 170 retire each year, but only about 20 percent are adopted by private citizens.

The burden of medical expenses, which can reach tens of millions of won for senior animals, is significant.

It is time for deeper consideration for these service animals that have saved people from dangerous disaster sites.

(Video coverage: Oh Won-seok, KNN | Video editing: Lee So-min, KNN | Video courtesy of: Busan Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters)

Reported by Jo Jin-wook, KNN