Three in ten Koreans now live with companion animals, according to a government survey released Wednesday. Monthly pet care costs average 121,000 won ($85) per animal, with veterinary expenses accounting for the largest share.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced the results of its "2025 Companion Animal Ownership Survey," which found that 29.2% of households directly raise pets at their current residence. The survey, conducted for the first time as nationally approved statistics by the National Data Agency, involved face-to-face interviews with 3,000 households.
Among pet-owning households, dogs were the most common at 80.5%, followed by cats (14.4%) and fish (4.1%). Average monthly care costs per pet totaled approximately 121,000 won, broken down into 40,000 won for food and treats, 37,000 won for veterinary care, and 21,000 won for grooming and hygiene. Dogs cost more to raise (135,000 won) than cats (92,000 won).
The most common adoption channel was through acquaintances (46.0%), including both paid and free transfers, followed by pet shop purchases (28.7%) and taking in stray cats (9.0%).
Some 22.8% of respondents said they plan to adopt a pet within the next year. Those without adoption plans cited lack of time (25.3%), financial burden (18.2%), and insufficient confidence in pet care (16.3%) as primary reasons. Among those considering adoption, 88.3% said they would consider taking in lost or abandoned animals.
Veterinary clinics were the most-used pet service in the past year at 95.1%, followed by grooming services (50.8%), pet playgrounds (35.5%), and pet hotels (12.9%). Veterinary clinic usage has risen steadily from 71.8% in 2022 to 80.4% in 2023 and 93.0% in 2024.
The pet industry is expanding rapidly as more Koreans treat their animals as family members. According to the agriculture ministry, the domestic pet industry was valued at 8 trillion won in 2022 and is growing at an annual rate of 14.5%. The market is projected to reach 15 trillion won by 2027.
