Exploring South Korea: The Ideal Pet-Friendly Destination
South Korea offers endless options for pet owners looking to vacation with their furry family member, whether it’s a luxury accommodation, sightseeing locations, pet-friendly activities, or an aesthetic cafe. With a quarter of Korean households being home to a pet, it’s no surprise that many places take extra measures to cater to pet owners, making South Korea one of the best destinations to visit if you’re looking for a pet-friendly holiday. Of course, dogs are more commonly seen in public spaces, but we were pleasantly surprised by how welcoming the locals were when it came to the cats!
Flying into South Korea with a Pet
Getting to South Korea with a pet requires at a minimum a microchip, rabies vaccination, and a rabies titration test. A government-issued health certificate is also required to enter the country, although for those entering from the EU you can present an EU pet passport instead. If you’re looking to fly into South Korea, you’ll be happy to note that their main airline, Korea Air, accepts pets in the cabin. Their restrictions are a bit more strict compared to other airlines and prioritized smaller pets as the max weight is 7kg for the pet and carrier when the typical weight is 8kg. You can learn more about what’s necessary to legally enter South Korea with your pet on the South Korean Animal and Plant Inspection Agency.
Once at the airport, the inspection process is fairly simple as you simply need to declare your pet at the designated animal area after getting your passport inspected. They’ll take your documents and scan a copy before providing you with an acceptance slip that you’ll hand to the customs inspector on your way out.
Public Transportation in South Korea with a Pet
Upon arriving in South Korea, you’ll have plenty of options for getting around with a pet as all forms of public transportation including buses, trains, and taxis allow for pets to ride for free if they are inside a carrier. If you want to travel across the country, the KTX also allows for pets inside carriers. Ferries with shorter routes will also allow small animals, although this varies. If your pet is too large to fit inside a carrier, you will have a more difficult time getting around, but there are taxis you can book specifically for pets that will accommodate larger breeds. You could also rent a car if you feel confident driving.
Walking Around with Your Pet
If you plan to explore Seoul and Busan, you’ll notice many people enjoying public spaces with their pets. It’s not uncommon to walk by someone pushing a stroller with a dog lounging inside or see someone carrying a small dog in their arms. At parks, people make sure to abide by leash laws and there are signs warning of major fines for anyone who doesn’t pick up after their pet. Signage for public spaces is typically pretty good for helping pet owners to determine whether pets are allowed inside.
Pets are allowed in many outdoor spaces, but some temples and palaces will not permit pets to enter the grounds or will only allow pets to access outdoor spaces while in a carrier or stroller. The rules vary depending on where you go, so make sure to research each location that you visit.
Another thing to note about South Korea is that they have laws forbidding pets to accompany you in National Parks. If you are looking to escape into nature, there are plenty of other forest and mountain trails that have been designated as pet-friendly.
Finding Pet-Friendly Accommodations in South Korea
Booking a pet-friendly accommodation is fairly easy if you’re planning to stay in one of the major cities of Korea. Many hotels offer rooms where pets are welcome, but if you’d prefer to have more space or want more privacy, you also won’t have any difficulties finding a vacation rental that accepts pets for free. For places that do charge an additional fee, you’re looking to spend an average of $25 per night for a hotel or $30 for a week in a vacation rental. Many places will allow for pets to be on furniture and will even provide extras like food bowls, a pet bed, and treats.
Pet-Friendly Ideas for Seoul & Busan
If you are visiting Seoul, one of the best spots I can recommend would be Seongsu-dong as it’s filled with endless cafe options with pet-friendly seating. The trendy neighbourhood is a popular spot for couples and it’s easy to access Seoul Forest after you’ve grabbed a bite to eat or finished sipping a latte. If you do visit the area, make sure to snap some photos with your furry family member at one of the pet-friendly photo booths or get an artist to draw your likeness in the form of a cute caricature that you can take home.
If you’re looking to appreciate Korean architecture, stroll down Bukchon Hanok Village to see hundreds of traditional houses. To be warned that the crowds will be quite dense and you may wish to have a quieter experience at the modern Eunpyeong Hanok Village which is less than an hour’s drive from the city center.
If you’re looking to escape the outdoors or simply want to shop, then the best place to explore is one of the Starfield Malls. The Starfield Coex Mall is pet-friendly and offers tons of variety in shops and the perfect photo opportunity in the Starfield Library. For an even more impressive pet-friendly experience with pet strollers and photo spots, I’d recommend heading an hour out of Seoul to the newer Suwon Starfield Mall.
Busan is another great option for those looking to enjoy the beach and it’s convenient to visit thanks to the KTX being pet-friendly. There are just as many cafes to check out in Busan and you can take your pet to several tourist destinations like the Sky Capsules at Haeundae Blueline Park, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, and Gamcheon Culture Village. You can also find a full pet-friendly itinerary on the Visit Busan website.
