Pet Ownership Rises in Korea, Along with Time Alone and Costs (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, June 29 (Korea Bizwire) — In a quiet apartment in Seoul, a small Maltese curls up on a cushion by the window, waiting. It’s a familiar scene repeated across millions of South Korean households, where pets have become cherished companions—but often spend much of the day alone.
A new report released by KB Financial Group’s Management Research Institute paints a revealing picture of the country’s growing pet culture. As of the end of 2024, nearly 15.5 million Koreans—roughly one in three—owned a pet. That figure translates to 5.91 million households, a modest but steady increase over the past year.
The majority of these homes—4.55 million—own dogs, while 1.37 million care for cats. Popular breeds like Maltese and Poodles dominate among canines, while Korean Shorthairs lead feline preferences, followed by Russian Blues and Persians.
Yet alongside the love and companionship comes a quieter reality: solitude. According to the report, more than 80% of pet owners leave their animals home alone during the day. On average, pets spend nearly six hours—5 hours and 54 minutes—without human interaction.
Despite this solitude, households are investing heavily in their animals’ well-being. Monthly spending on pet care rose to an average of ₩194,000 ($140) in 2024, a 26% increase from the year before. The biggest expenses? Food (35.1%), followed by treats and supplements (22.5%), daily essentials like pads (10.6%), and grooming (8.7%).
The Loneliest Companions: Korean Pets Wait Hours Alone Each Day (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
Veterinary bills have surged too. Over 70% of pet owners reported veterinary costs in the past two years, with average treatment expenses exceeding ₩1 million ($740)—nearly double what it was in 2023.
And yet, the market for pet insurance remains largely untapped. With only 12.8% of households enrolled in a plan, many cited a lack of standardized vet fees as a major barrier to adoption. For 46% of respondents, introducing uniform pricing for veterinary care was viewed as the essential first step to expanding insurance coverage.
The emotional toll and logistical difficulties of pet ownership were also apparent in the survey. Owners pointed to travel restrictions (39.1%), rising costs (34.1%), and cleaning up after their animals (33.9%) as top challenges.
Still, a strong majority expressed no regrets. Three out of four owners said they were satisfied with their decision to raise a pet, and a similar proportion said they would continue to do so in the future.
But perhaps most telling is the hesitation to recommend pet ownership to others. While pet parents expressed deep personal fulfillment, only 49.4% said they would suggest raising a pet to someone else—a subtle but meaningful reflection of the emotional and financial weight that comes with caring for an animal in the modern Korean household.
As the country’s demographics shift and the population ages, pets are increasingly filling emotional spaces once reserved for extended family or traditional community. And yet, their wagging tails and gentle purrs come with a new kind of responsibility—one that South Korea is still learning how to manage.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
