Seocho-gu hosts wellness festival for pets and their owners this Saturday

Seocho-gu in Seoul will host the 2026 Seocho Wellness Petstar festival Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the lawn plaza of Seocho Culture and Arts Park.

The event was conceived around the theme of "wellness" — a vision of health that goes beyond the mere absence of disease to encompass physical and mental well-being — in response to an era in which South Korea is home to tens of millions of companion animals. Organizers aim to promote a responsible pet culture and create a space where pet owners and non-owners can mingle and connect.

A range of hands-on health programs will run throughout the day, offering dog CPR training for emergency preparedness, dog fitness sessions, prescription food and nutrition consultations, and a self-grooming demonstration.

Entertainment will be equally plentiful. A dog dancing performance, a wellness true-or-false quiz testing pet knowledge, and a dog treasure hunt are all on the program. Craft booths where visitors can make toys, ID tags and homemade treats will also be set up, alongside a dog camping zone, photo zone and food zone.

The venue will also display about 20 award-winning entries from a pet photo competition themed "Happy everyday life with companion animals," offering a warm glimpse of Seocho as an animal-friendly city where people and animals thrive together. Full details are available on the official website.

Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said he hopes the festival will give pet-owning families cherished memories as autumn deepens and bring healing to all residents who take part. "I also hope this festival becomes a place of harmony where pet owners and non-owners can understand and communicate with each other," he said.