In an era where many campaigns are often backed by major company sponsors and media coverage, a brave and brilliant Korean man, Seongwon LEE, a former Marine Corps officer turned government official, has chosen a unique personal initiative that he calls a “Walkation” (Walk+Vacation+Donation), that he has embarked on a 560-kilometer walking and running challenge from Seoul to Busan to raise awareness for retired service dogs and uniformed personnel in South Korea.
On a sunny and beautiful Seoul morning, 02 May 2025, to meet him, I rode my bike to the Seoul National Cemetery, where he was planning to start his journey. During a brief moment of visit to the altar, he paid his respects with a silent tribute to individuals who dedicated their lives to the country. Afterward, he marked his journey motto, “Today is the Tomorrow of Yesterday,” in a guest book at the gate.
Then, we sat for coffee and conversation before the first steps of his journey. Mr. Seongwon Lee is an expert on North Korea, Future Warfare, Games & Military Applications, and International Relations. He has been a lecturer at various Korean universities and has published a book. Before his current position, he held the role of Deputy Director for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Unification. Currently, he serves as the International Spokesperson for the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) of the Republic of Korea.
In his email statement, he highlighted that the Walkation is a one-time personal initiative, walking 560km solo from Seoul to Busan for 11 days, donating 1 KRW per step out of his own pocket. No ministry. No logo. No budget. Just one guy with a slightly questionable judgment about how to spend a vacation before he turns 40.
For him, it means two things: walking for our four-pawed military buddies who’ve served diligently, and taking a “pause” from office life to do something meaningful. This isn’t meant to be a flashy campaign – quite the opposite: It’s a silent personal commitment that I hope might inspire wider conversations about how we care for our animal veterans in the future. Interestingly, for every step he takes, he will donate 1 KRW to the ROK Army K-9 Training Center to support the welfare of retired military dogs.
Why did you decide to take on this long walk?
I’ve been working with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs for some time now, especially as the international spokesperson. Through this, I’ve been fortunate to work on many meaningful projects and meet foreign veterans who served under the UN during the Korean War, including those from Ethiopia. Each visit from them deeply touched me.
So, I started to ask myself: is there something else I can do within my own means? One of our projects is the Appreciation Campaign for Uniformed Personnel. That got me thinking—even dogs in uniform, like rescue and military dogs, are part of this story.
For instance, during the earthquake in Turkey, one of our Labrador retrievers—a rescue dog from the firefighting department—did an amazing job saving lives. They serve in uniform, too. That really struck me.
Is this walk and run to honor service animals?
Exactly. Military and service dogs dedicate their lives to service. Things have improved in terms of their treatment, the Korean National Assembly is pushing new bills, NGOs are stepping in, but I asked myself: Is the government doing enough? As a government official, I can’t solicit donations, it’s against the law. So, I decided, why not donate my own money and do something symbolic? That’s how this journey started. Nothing fancy. Just me, walking and running to raise awareness and give back.
Do you love animals?
Yes, very much. That’s another reason this means so much to me.
What challenges are you expecting on this journey?
Probably some broken toes! It’s definitely a form of self-torment. The average well-trained man can walk 40 kilometers a day, but I have to cover 560 kilometers in just 10 days—about 55 kilometers a day. That means I’ll have to run and walk just to keep pace. But I’m a former Marine Corps officer. I’ve trained for endurance. I’m hopeful I’m not too old for this.
Are you planning to meet anyone along the way?
Not at the moment. I want to finish the walk first. You never know what might happen—I may not make it the whole way. Once it’s completed, then I’ll start outreach, celebrate it, and hopefully bring others into the cause.
So this is just the beginning of a larger movement?
That’s the idea. I’m calling it a “challenge,” not a “campaign,” because I want to pass the torch to others. For example, there are apps like Big Walk where steps can be converted into donations via sponsors. I’m hoping that once I finish this, I can find sponsors and maybe even nominate influencers, such as singers, artists, and athletes, to join the challenge, like the Ice Bucket Challenge, but for service dogs and heroes.
Why did you choose to walk from Seoul to Busan?
Seoul and Busan are symbolic cities. Seoul has the National Cemetery where many of our Korean heroes rest, and Busan is home to the UN Memorial Cemetery, where foreign heroes lie. This walk connects those two sacred grounds, a way to honor both Korean and international contributions.
Also, this route is the country’s longest bikeway, about 674 kilometers. I’m taking a shortcut, which makes it 560 km, but I’m following the same trail you’d ride on a bike. You love biking, right?
Yes, I do! That’s awesome. Do you have any message?
Not yet. I want to save that for after I return. But I’d love to follow up and share the results with you.
While I was accompanying him for a few kilometers walk along the Han River before we said goodbyes, I thought that I couldn’t imagine myself taking on a similar difficult journey for 11 days; however, who knows as I might be able to do it in the future. Anyway, I hope that what started as a simple idea, one man, one walk, and one heartfelt purpose, might spark a nationwide challenge. Finally, we agreed to meet on the donation delivery day, 13 May 2025, at the ROK Army Military Dog Training Center in Chuncheon City, about 88km away from Seoul.
Photos taken by Bereket Alemayehu
