๋ฐ๋ ค๋๋ฌผ ์ฐ์ , Pet Industry News Update โ 2026-05-12
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Shinhan Bank is set to introduce a "Family Financial Service" in June, treating pets as official family members. With 29.2% of households now owning pets, the "pet humanization" trend is driving demand for high-quality pet food. Additionally, Seodaemun-gu has announced a grace period for animal registration, waiving fines of up to 600,000 won for pet owners who register their dogs.
Pet Industry and News Briefing โ 2026-05-12
Pet Industry and Business Trends
Shinhan Bank to launch "Family Financial Service" in June Recognizing the era of 15 million pet owners, Shinhan Bank is introducing a savings product that officially treats pets as family members. Set to launch in June alongside the "New Super SOL" app, the service aims to capture pet-owning families as a new customer base. This move by a major financial institution to recognize pets as formal family members marks a significant industry shift.
"Pet Humanization" trend boosts demand for healthy pet food According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), 29.2% of households in Korea now own pets. Driven by the "pet humanization" trend, there is growing popularity for pet food products that incorporate healthy, human-grade ingredients.
Royal Canin Chair: "Pet life expectancy is up 2.2 years; it's time to focus on 'healthspan'" Cecile Coutens, Chair of Royal Canin, highlighted that the average life expectancy for pets has increased by 2.2 years. She emphasized that the industry must now shift its focus beyond mere longevity to "healthspan," a point that carries major implications for the pet nutrition and healthcare sectors.
Cats rising as top pets across Korea, China, and Japan The number of pet cats is surging across Northeast Asia, surpassing dogs in many regions. CNN and other international media attribute this to smaller living spaces, long working hours, low birth rates, the rise of single-person households, and loneliness. Taiwan has already seen the number of cats overtake dogs, and Korea is experiencing a sharp increase in cat ownership following COVID-19, which is expected to reshape the pet food and supplies market.
Policy and Legal Updates
Seodaemun-gu announces grace period for dog registration Seodaemun-gu officially announced on the 12th that it will hold a "2026 Animal Registration Voluntary Reporting Period" for a total of four months (MayโJune and SeptemberโOctober). During this time, owners who voluntarily register their dogs will be exempt from fines of up to 600,000 won. The district aims to boost registration rates and foster a more responsible culture of pet ownership.
Imsil-gun also implements voluntary animal registration period Imsil-gun has also announced a 2026 voluntary registration period to encourage responsible pet ownership and boost dog registration rates.
Public animal healthcare policy forum held The Gyeonggi Veterinary Association held a policy forum on the 10th at the Gyeonggi Veterinary Association Hall in Suwon to discuss establishing a public animal healthcare system. Attendees included Woo Yeon-chul, President of the Korean Veterinary Medical Association, and officials from Gyeonggi-do.
Seoul Mayoral candidate promises up to 250,000 won for rescuing shelter animals Jung Won-oh, a candidate for Seoul Mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, has promised to provide up to 250,000 won in support for families that adopt abandoned animals. He stated, "Pet-owning families deserve the same level of city services as non-pet-owning families."
Health Management and Lifestyle Tips
MAFRA uses AI to analyze pet medical data by age group The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Rural Development Administration (RDA) used AI to analyze common diseases in pets by age. For adult pets (3โ12 years), urinary and oral health issues were identified as primary concerns, while senior pets (13+ years) showed higher rates of complex chronic conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, chronic kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism. This research is expected to be a milestone for designing health management programs tailored to the domestic situation.
Ministry releases life-cycle health management guidelines The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has released life-cycle guidelines for dogs and cats, covering major diseases by age and prevention methods. This guidance, which analyzes injuries, diseases, and medical procedures by breed and age, will be used to support the development of preventive medical systems and pet insurance products.
Government plans to train 300 animal pharmaceutical experts To boost the competitiveness of the rapidly growing animal pharmaceutical industry, the government announced plans to train 300 professional experts. With a strong commitment to expanding the market and enhancing export competitiveness, officials have expressed a desire to grow the sector with the same strategic intensity as the semiconductor industry.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI โ including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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