According to the Population and Housing Census conducted by Statistics Korea, as of 2020, 15% of households reported living with pets. This suggests that a simple vote might not fully reflect the voices of pet-owning households. (Image courtesy of Pexels/CCL)
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent proposal to ban dog walking within certain apartment complexes in Seoul has ignited a heated debate among residents.
The controversy began in a Gangnam-gu, Gaepo-dong apartment complex, where some residents suggested putting the matter to a vote.
The issue first emerged in July of last year when a resident posted on the community’s private forum, questioning the idea of prohibiting residents from walking their pets.
The post included a reference to an article about an apartment complex in the Seoul suburb of Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province that had introduced a similar ban, citing increasing concerns over dog waste and large dogs.
The original poster noted that such measures could be possible with city approval and a majority vote from residents.
While some agreed that public discussion might be necessary if the current situation persists, others strongly opposed the idea, arguing that banning dog walking was an extreme measure and not a desirable solution. Consequently, the proposal for a resident vote did not proceed.
Although the issue seemed to have subsided for a while, it resurfaced recently when another resident expressed frustration over the cleanliness of shared spaces and the mental stress caused by encountering dog waste, suggesting once again that a vote be taken.
The apartment complex in Seongnam mentioned earlier established a management regulation banning pet walks within the complex to create a pleasant environment and prevent dog bite incidents, imposing fines for violations.
The rules included restrictions on pets entering auxiliary facilities and required the use of cages for transportation.
Small dogs had to be carried or placed in transport bags, and the placement of potentially harmful substances like rat poison or oil cake fertilizer in common areas was warned against.
Despite the decision being made through a resident vote and approved by the city, households with pets protested, viewing it as discrimination against pet owners.
According to the Population and Housing Census conducted by Statistics Korea, as of 2020, 15% of households reported living with pets. This suggests that a simple vote might not fully reflect the voices of pet-owning households.
One resident of the Gaepo-dong apartment complex expressed to the Kukmin Ilbo that apartments are communal living spaces where residents should seek ways to coexist.
They argued that if dog feces are the issue, the focus should be on educating residents to clean up after their pets and implementing measures like pet identification tags to prevent other dogs from entering the complex, rather than outright bans.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
