Pet Industry News Briefing — 2026-04-28

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Pet Industry & Business Trends

Gwangju to Train 11 Pet Industry Professionals Gwangju is recruiting 11 trainees for its "2026 Pet Professional Training Program" to address the shortage of skilled care workers in the growing industry. The city's initiative is being watched as a strategic effort to create youth jobs while boosting service quality.

New Public-Interest Model: Pet Tech IR Meets Abandoned Animal Art Cheongdam Plamu and KOC are hosting a children's art exhibition focused on protecting abandoned animals, linked with an open IR (Investor Relations) session for pet tech startups. It's seen as a model that expands both public awareness and the industrial ecosystem.

"Pet Chicken" Craze in China Hits 3.1 Billion Views According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), chickens that were once food are now popular pets in China. Videos and posts about "pet chickens" have exceeded 3.1 billion views on social media, with low monthly upkeep costs of around 6,000 won cited as a key factor in their popularity.

Criticism Over Local Governments Prioritizing Pet Festivals Over Registration In Busan, only 4 out of 8 districts participated in the animal registration support program. The 3 non-participating districts are facing criticism for spending their budgets on superficial events like pet festivals rather than practical animal welfare programs.

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Policy & Legal Updates

Animal Groups Demand Legislative Action to Ban Bullfighting Five organizations, including the Korean Animal Welfare Association, Voice for Animals, Forward for Animals, the Korea Vegan Union, and the Korean Vegan Association, issued a joint statement on April 27 calling for the swift passage of a bill to ban bullfighting. They emphasized that bullfighting is a form of animal cruelty and demanded prompt legislative action.

Chungbuk Veterinary Association Annual Meeting Highlights Act Revisions The Chungbuk Veterinary Association held its 2026 Annual Meeting in Cheongju on April 26. Four local lawmakers attended, strengthening ties with the association. Recent workshops for the Korean Veterinary Medical Association have also focused on revisions to the Veterinarian Act and related policies.

Goobne Duman Marks 1st Anniversary of Supporting Po-Cat-Mung Shelter Goobne Duman (CEO Hong Kyung-ho) announced on April 28 that it visited the Po-Cat-Mung shelter to mark the first anniversary of its regular donations and pledged lifelong support. The case is being highlighted as a move toward sustainable corporate support for animal welfare.

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Health & Lifestyle Tips

The Rising Trend of "Mushroom Therapy" in the Pet Industry Moving beyond red ginseng, "Mushroom Therapy" is becoming a major trend in the pet industry. Health supplements and products incorporating mushroom ingredients are spreading rapidly, cementing their place as a functional material trend in both domestic and international markets.

Tick Precautions for Spring Walks As spring arrives, the risk of tick-borne infections for pets is rising. Experts warn that ticks can transmit zoonotic diseases like Tsutsugamushi disease and SFTS, making it essential to check your pet's skin and fur after every walk. Using repellents and regular preventatives is highly recommended.

Reflecting on the "Pets as Children" Culture in an Era of Low Birth Rates With South Korea’s total fertility rate hitting 0.8 in 2025, the culture of viewing pets as family members is deepening. This has sparked social discourse on the relationship between pets and children, as well as the responsibilities of owners. As emotional dependence on pets grows, the importance of maintaining an animal's physical and emotional health is increasingly being highlighted.