Global EditionASIA 中文雙語Fran?ais
    World
    Home / World / Across Asia

    Pet peeve

    Pet-friendly cafes in South Korea find themselves in the doghouse

    Updated: 2024-10-22 09:52
    Share
    Share - WeChat
    Pet owners with their dogs at the Jeju International Airport in Jeju, South Korea, on March 16, 2023. YONHAP

    Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.

    Cho, a 31-year-old cafe owner in Seoul who did not want to give her full name, used to run a popular spot for pet owners.

    Her cafe, known for its dog-friendly atmosphere and puppuccinos, a drink for dogs, regularly welcomed customers with their pets. Occasionally, she would bring her own dog to work.

    But recent government warnings have made it difficult to allow dogs on the premises.

    "I received a warning from the government about having dogs here," Cho said. "They told me a complaint was filed, claiming the cafe was unhygienic because of the dogs."

    Cho said most pet-friendly cafes and restaurants operate unaware of a ban on pets. Owners typically become aware of the regulation when a civil complaint is filed, she said.

    A dog takes part in a pet supplies show in Seoul on Oct 16, 2020. YONHAP

    Current laws prohibit pets from entering food-handling establishments such as restaurants and cafes. The ban applies to animals in crates and strollers and includes outdoor seating areas that are registered as part of the business.

    Businesses receive a warning for a first offense. A second violation results in a 15-day suspension and a third incurs a 30-day suspension. A fourth violation or more can lead to a 60-day suspension, revocation of the operating permit, or even an administrative order to close the business.

    Pet owners say the rule is out of sync with current trends in South Korea.

    Nearly a quarter of the country's population, about 15 million people, are pet owners and the country is witnessing a surge in pet-friendly services, particularly in dining and traveling, they pointed out.

    Park Hee-jung, 31, who owns a 10-year-old golden retriever, expressed frustration with the inconsistent pet policies at restaurants.

    "I've had several experiences where I went to a restaurant based on reviews saying it was pet-friendly, only to find they had changed their policy," she said, adding that she hopes the law will evolve to offer more options and clearer guidelines.

    "Different restaurants have different rules and they usually don't state them clearly. It's very confusing and challenging to find a place where I can dine with my dog in peace," Park said.

    In response to growing demand for pet-friendly dining, the government launched a two-year pilot project in December 2022 to explore regulatory sandbox permits for some restaurants and cafes.

    "As of July 2024, 141 stores from 38 brands are legally registered as pet-friendly," said Jung In-kwon, an official of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea.

    Seo Yul-hee, the owner of cafe Beryl Kiki in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, is one of them.

    "There are agencies that charge around 3 to 5 million won ($3,700) for assistance (in obtaining the sandbox permit)," Seo said, who handled the application process on her own.

    She said that while it requires some effort, such as renovating the store, it is manageable. "It's not a walk in the park, but with proper preparation, it's achievable for a business owner."

    Establishments with permits must follow a set of guidelines from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, such as posting signs that pets are allowed, ensuring dogs are leashed and covering food when served or displayed. Permits are valid for two years.

    Information on pet-friendly establishments with the permit is available on the government's Regulatory Information portal. Seo said she believes many businesses are simply unaware of the permit.

    She also advocates for a change in the law, suggesting that restaurants should be allowed to accommodate pets if their staff completes requirements like hygiene training, rather than enforcing an outright ban.

    As the pilot program on pet-friendly dining nears its conclusion, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is studying possible revisions of the current regulations, with December 2025 set as its initial timeline for any changes.

    "We will assess the pilot project's results and gather expert opinions first," Jung said.

    However, there are some who do not support the idea of pets in restaurants and cafes.

    "I think small dogs are cute, but imagining their fur and dust in my food puts me off. If a restaurant is pet-friendly, I wouldn't go," said Yoon Hye-jung, a 33-year-old Seoul resident.

    "I think outdoor seating at cafes is fine for dogs, but I believe many people would feel uncomfortable with dogs inside restaurants," said Kim Hyo-jin, a 30-year-old owner of a Maltipoo, a small mixed-breed poodle. "Besides, there could be people who are allergic to dogs or cats."

    Veterinarian Choi In-young, a director at the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association, said pet-friendly restaurants are necessary but should follow specific legal guidelines.

    "There should be designated areas for pets, and shop owners must inform customers in advance," he said. "The interior and equipment should be designed to prevent food contamination from pet fur."

    Choi also emphasized that pet owners need to take responsibility.

    "If your pet hasn't been taught basic etiquette, like not barking or biting, you may need to sign a waiver. Shop owners should have the right to ask disruptive customers to leave," he said.

    THE KOREA HERALD, SOUTH KOREA

    Most Viewed in 24 Hours
    Top
    BACK TO THE TOP
    English
    Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
    License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

    Registration Number: 130349
    FOLLOW US
    免费无码黄十八禁网站在线观看| 再看日本中文字幕在线观看| 少妇无码AV无码一区| 久久中文字幕无码专区| 精品久久久无码21p发布| 综合国产在线观看无码| 无码精品国产VA在线观看DVD| 波多野结衣在线aⅴ中文字幕不卡| 久久无码人妻一区二区三区午夜 | 无码人妻精品一区二区三区在线 | 少妇人妻偷人精品无码视频 | 日本精品久久久中文字幕| 丰满少妇人妻无码| 精品日韩亚洲AV无码一区二区三区| 中文字幕在线无码一区二区三区| 无码成A毛片免费| AV无码久久久久不卡蜜桃| 中文字幕在线最新在线不卡| 亚洲午夜无码片在线观看影院猛| 无码人妻视频一区二区三区| 国产又爽又黄无码无遮挡在线观看| 日韩av无码中文字幕| 亚洲欧美综合中文| 精品久久久久久无码人妻热| 久久久无码人妻精品无码| 亚洲AV人无码激艳猛片| 一本加勒比hezyo无码专区| 一级片无码中文字幕乱伦| 最近最新高清免费中文字幕 | 区三区激情福利综合中文字幕在线一区亚洲视频1 | 久久精品aⅴ无码中文字字幕不卡| 日韩av无码中文无码电影| 中文字幕亚洲无线码a| 线中文在线资源 官网| 最好看的中文字幕2019免费| 99在线精品国自产拍中文字幕| 亚洲av无码国产精品色在线看不卡 | 熟妇女人妻丰满少妇中文字幕| а中文在线天堂| 中文字幕在线免费看线人| 亚洲久本草在线中文字幕|