Korean Pet Travel: Must-Know Rules from Korea Tourism Organization

[Image: Anna Evlanova on Unsplash]

Latest news from Korea Tourism Organization: Pet-friendly travel norms for Korean travellers! According to a comprehensive report released by the Korea Tourism Organization, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, new guidelines have been issued to help travellers manage their pets while on the move. [READ: This Korean Bestseller Opens a New Window]

Earlier, in 2022, six cities in Korea had been designated as pet-friendly destinations. The latest guidelines provide the much anticipated impetus for travellers and the pet industry to work alongside local authorities to executue the new guidelines for greater impact.

[Image: Henry Ascroft @ Unsplash]

The detailed guidelines simplify travel norms for those who are visiting various tourist attractions, restaurants, cafes and hotel accommodation.

[Image: Bundo Kim on Unsplash]

Latest Korean Pet Travel Laws and Etiquette

A few essential pet-friendly features have been incorporated into these travel guidelines such as:

making provisions for disinfectants, leash hooks
amenities such as playgrounds for pets
waste disposal areas
pet lounges

No more stress for Korean Pet Travellers

Based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, approximately 28.6 percent of Korean households own pets. The Euromonitor's data in 2023 indicates that the number of dog owners in South Korean households is twice that of cat owners. This reminds me: While Indian households are increasingly warming up to treating pets as family members, there is no regulatory data around pets. Clearly, South Korea takes a lead when it comes to documenting their love for pets and making it a part of their regulatory norms as well!

[READ: How Birds Brighten Our Days]

[Image: TA-WEI LIN on Unsplash]

In 2022, Statistics Korea highlighted that three out of ten households in the country were single-person, with the largest proportion, aged around 29 years or less.

Another survey, known as the Open Survey, highlights that 75.8 percent pet owners wish to travel with their pet companions.

In today's world where most people feel lonelier than before, it is an urban phenomenon that most people now raise pets.

One of the reasons why this intrigued me is bookish!

Because most book titles from Japan and Korea have 'cats' or 'bookshops' in their titles - guess what, books are the next best companions for people!

[READ: Poland's First Library in a Metro Station]

[Image: Alex Nicolopoulos @ Unsplash]

I found it interesting that cat owners in Korea are now employing "jipsa" or a cat butler to take care of their household when they are out working.

Rewind to childhood days when book blurbs featured cats and dogs, especially Enid Blyton books. Back then, the author made it cool for famillies to raise dogs and yes, that's the power of storytelling too!

Here's to many more pet-friendly norms Korean pet travellers can look forward to!

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