Pet Industry and News Briefing — October 16, 2026

Busan is boosting the pet economy by officially certifying 10 pet-friendly spaces for the first time among local governments nationwide. Meanwhile, the 2026 Animal Healthcare Industry Fair has kicked off in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, covering animal pharmaceuticals and pet culture to boost industry competitiveness. In addition, recently revised animal protection laws have further tightened legal regulations, including bans on animal ownership for abusers and fines for violating care duties.

<!-- /headline -->

---

Pet Industry and Business Trends

1. Busan certifies 10 pet-friendly spaces for the first time nationwide Led by Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, Busan has officially certified 10 businesses, including beauty salons, as "pet-friendly spaces" to expand the local pet economy. This marks the first official certification among local governments nationwide, and the city plans to push for designation as a "pet special zone" by 2028. Through this certification, Busan aims to standardize the quality of pet-related services.

2. The 2026 Animal Healthcare Industry Fair opens in Iksan, North Jeolla Province Jeonbuk State and Iksan City hosted the "2026 Animal Healthcare Industry Fair" in Iksan. The event featured industry exhibitions alongside expert forums discussing regulatory innovation for animal pharmaceuticals and vaccines, quality control, and infectious disease response strategies. Notably, on the 16th, IR demo days and consulting sessions were linked to support investment attraction for pet healthcare startups.

3. Food and retail sectors accelerate push into the 2.4 trillion won pet food market As the domestic pet food market grows to approximately 2.4 trillion won, competition among food and retail companies to win the hearts of pet owners is intensifying. In line with the trend where one in three households raises a pet, companies are strengthening their functional feed and snack lineups tailored to health conditions and life stages.

---

Policy and Legal Revisions

1. Revised Animal Protection Act takes effect: pet ownership bans for abusers and fines introduced As the revised Animal Protection Act passed on the 1st takes effect, courts can now ban animal abusers from owning pets for 1 to 5 years. Furthermore, a legal basis has been established to impose fines directly for raising animals in unsanitary environments or violating statutory care duties for pets. Animal protection groups have expressed welcoming stances toward these legal strengthenings.

2. National audit highlights inadequate budgeting for pet safety accident prevention During the 2026 national audit, inadequate safety management in preparation for the era of 15 million domestic pet owners came under fire. Although human casualties from pet-related safety accidents, such as dog bites and collisions, occur every year, it was revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has virtually zero budget for prevention. Consequently, experts point out the urgent need to establish institutional mechanisms to prevent accidents.

3. "Animal Welfare Basic Act" re-introduced... Prime Minister-led policy integration pursued Legislative moves to regulate the basic principles and promotion systems of animal welfare policies through a separate law continue. Representative Yoon Jun-byung re-introduced the "Animal Welfare Basic Act" following the previous bill by Representative Seo Sam-seok, centering on a system where the Prime Minister oversees animal welfare policies. This is an attempt to centrally manage scattered animal welfare policies at the national level.

---

Health Care and Lifestyle Tips

1. Growth of pet nutritional supplement market... rising demand for prevention-focused care The global veterinary nutritional supplement market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3% through 2035. This is driven by the "pet humanization" trend—treating pets as family members—coupled with increasing demand for healthcare focused on prevention rather than disease treatment. Owners are showing heightened interest in customized supplements to prevent aging and specific diseases in their pets.

2. Companion plant population reaches 17.45 million... emerging as a mental health aid The population raising "companion plants" alongside pets has reached 17.45 million, with the related market growing to 2.4 trillion won. During the national audit, Representative Lee Gae-ho emphasized how companion plants contribute to modern people's emotional stability and psychological health, urging the enactment of a "Companion Plant Act" to systematically manage and support them. Plant care requires responsibility and emotional connection, much like raising a pet.

3. Spread of pet-friendly travel culture and the need to build infrastructure According to a report by the Korea Tourism Organization, alongside the increase in pet-owning populations, "pet-accompanying travel" is establishing itself as a major tourism trend. The pet industry is expanding beyond simple product purchases into advanced lifestyle services, making the pet-friendly improvement of infrastructure such as accommodation, transportation, and tourist sites an important task.