Pet Industry and News Briefing — 2026-09-23

Pet Industry and Business Trends

• Pet food trade deficit hits 1.3 trillion won — Imports more than double exports: Although the market is expanding due to a rise in pet-owning households, pet food import values have exceeded exports by more than double, resulting in a 1.3 trillion won trade deficit over the past five years. The government is supporting overseas export industrialization, and industry players are exploring ways to boost competitiveness.

  

• Research and talent cultivation hubs needed for pet industry growth: At the "Pet-Related Industry and Education Development Direction Symposium" co-hosted by the Korea Pet-Related Industry Association (Chairman Cho Sung-ho) and the Korea Smart Pet Technology Industry Association (Chairman Jung Sun-ok), experts stressed the need for long-term research and talent development hubs to drive industry growth.

  

• Results of the 2026 KCIA Korea Consumer Industry Evaluation for 'Pets' in Seoul and Gyeonggi Announced: KCA Korea Consumer Evaluation, hosted by the Daehan Consumer Council, announced the evaluation results for the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions in the 'Pets' category of the '2026 KCIA Korea Consumer Industry Evaluation'.

  

• Animal breeding textile materials market projected to grow through 2035: The market for textile materials used in animal breeding is projected to grow through 2035, driven by smart climate control systems and strengthened animal welfare regulations.

2 sources

news1.kr

news1.kr

yna.co.kr

최근 5년 펫푸드 무역적자 1조3천억원…수입이 수출의 2배 넘어 | 연합뉴스

Policy and Legislative Amendments

• Discussions on introducing an 'ownership ban' to prevent repeat animal abuse: Amid a steady increase in animal abuse reports, calls are growing to restrict repeat ownership in addition to punishing offenders. Under current laws, causing the cruel death of an animal can carry prison sentences.

  

• First-instance sentencing statistics for Animal Protection Act violations released: Out of 416 individuals given first-instance sentences for Animal Protection Act violations between 2020 and 2024, 29 received prison terms and 286 received fines. During the same period, 2,076 out of 4,601 prosecuted cases were sent to trial.

  

• Animal welfare groups urge tougher penalties for abuse and ownership restrictions: Animal rights and vegan organizations, including the Korea Animal Protection Alliance and Voice for Animals, issued a statement demanding harsher punishments for animal abuse crimes and the establishment of systems to restrict animal ownership for abusers.

• 95,685 abandoned and lost animals last year, with 43% dying in shelters: Last year, 95,685 dogs and cats were abandoned or lost and subsequently rescued, while only 10,685 (11.2%) were returned to their original owners.

  

• Yeonggwang-gun operates voluntary pet registration reporting period: Yeonggwang-gun is running a second voluntary reporting period until October 31 to prevent pet loss and abandonment, followed by a focused crackdown on animal registration in November.

2 sources

news33.net

news33.net

segye.com

segye.com

Health Management and Lifestyle Tips

• Utilizing breed- and age-specific health care guidelines: The Insurance Development Institute's pet health care guideline is a reference material that analyzes major injuries, diseases, and medical procedures across lifecycle stages by breed and age, offering preventive management strategies.

• CDC pet hygiene management guidelines: The CDC recommends keeping pet supplies clean to prevent the spread of germs.

  

• Daily health management through AI-powered home care: By accumulating health data at home through smartphone-based AI diagnostics and home kit analysis, pet owners can more easily understand and manage their pets' conditions, spanning from feed selection to activity levels and lifestyle habits — accelerating the shift from hospital-centric care to everyday management.