In Gangnam, a district better known for sleek skyscrapers and luxury shopping than street cleanup, local canines are helping tackle litter one walk at a time.

The Gangnam District Office and the Gangnam Volunteer Center on Tuesday officially launched the Daeng-Daeng Plogging Volunteer Corps, a civic initiative that pairs dog owners with their four-legged companions to clean up neighborhood streets.

The idea draws on “plogging,” a trend that combines jogging or walking with picking up trash, but with a distinctly local twist. Gangnam has the highest number of registered pet dogs among all Seoul districts, with nearly 47,000 registered dogs. District officials said they saw an opportunity to turn routine daily walks into community service.

The inaugural group includes 56 teams made up of 77 owners and 56 dogs. Through December, these human-canine pairs will patrol their neighborhoods at least once a week, collecting stray litter along their routes. Participants will record their hours in a national volunteer portal and post before-and-after photos online to document their activity.

The program is designed not only to improve the appearance of sidewalks and streets, but also to promote responsible pet ownership. According to the district office, owners are expected to model proper leash etiquette and diligently pick up after their pets in shared public spaces while their dogs help search for trash.

Gangnam officials said the initiative also reflects a practical way to connect everyday routines with neighborhood upkeep, since dog walking already brings residents into public spaces on a regular basis. By organizing that activity through the volunteer center, the district is giving pet owners a structured way to participate in civic work without requiring a separate trip or special event.

To encourage participation, the district plans to highlight standout teams in the volunteer center’s archive. Outstanding participants will receive special perks, and the program will conclude at the Gangnam Volunteer Awards in December, where the most dedicated handlers will be named the district’s first Volunteering Dog Owners of the Year.

“A simple walk with a pet can blossom into a meaningful contribution to our local environment,” said Kim Hyun-ki, mayor of Gangnam District. “We will continue expanding accessible, everyday volunteer opportunities for pet-owning families.”

With litter bags in hand and dogs at their side, Gangnam’s newest volunteers are turning ordinary walks into a neighborhood cleanup effort.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.