Yangcheon-gu, led by District Mayor Lee Gi-jae, is launching its 2026 Pet Culture Education Program to promote responsible pet ownership and foster a more considerate pet culture as the number of pet-owning households continues to grow.
According to a survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, about 29.2 percent of households in South Korea now own pets — a figure that has been consistently rising, with nearly one in three households living with an animal companion. In response, the district has been running the Pet Culture Education Program since 2019 to address common challenges pet owners face and provide reliable care information.
This year, the program has been expanded and refined based on last year's results and participant feedback, with a stronger focus on practical, tailored education for both pets and their owners. A total of 130 households with registered pets are eligible to join one of two programs: a home-visit one-on-one behavior correction service called "Chajagalgae" and a group walking class called "Dahamkke Sanchaekalgae."
"Chajagalgae" sends a professional trainer directly to the homes of owners struggling with their pet's problem behaviors. The trainer assesses the animal's behavioral traits and the home environment, then delivers two 120-minute, one-on-one sessions per household — 30 households in total. The sessions identify the root causes of problem behaviors and guide owners on how to address them consistently in daily life.
"Dahamkke Sanchaekalgae" is a hands-on walking program teaching proper leash etiquette and public pet manners, open to 100 households. Groups of 10 households per session walk together with their pets from the annex of Yangcheon-gu Public Health Center to the deck trail at Gyenam Park (Sinjeongsan), learning how to handle a range of real-world situations they may encounter on a walk.
Both programs are free of charge. Interested households can apply online through the notice board on the Yangcheon-gu website from Wednesday through Sept. 1. The district will select final participants through a random electronic draw on Sept. 3. For more information, contact the Health and Sanitation Division at Yangcheon-gu Public Health Center.
Beyond education, the district is also working to ease the burden of pet care for vulnerable residents. Through its "Woori Dongne Animal Hospital" program, the district has supported 234 households this year by subsidizing veterinary costs for low-income residents and seniors receiving basic pension benefits. A companion pet foster service, "Woori Dongne Pet Foster Center," is also in operation, temporarily caring for pets belonging to vulnerable households — all part of the district's effort to build an environment where people and animals can thrive together.
"As more households welcome pets into their lives, the importance of responsible ownership and proper pet etiquette is growing," District Mayor Lee said. "We will continue working to build a mature pet culture — one where owners and their animals can live happily, and where pet owners and non-pet owners alike can coexist with mutual consideration."
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