SEOUL—The number of registered dogs and cats in South Korea increased by 7.6 percent in 2023, totaling 3.28 million, up from 3.05 million the previous year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, The data indicates that dogs continue to make up the vast majority of registered pets, accounting for 3.24 million of the total, with cats comprising about 40,000 registrations. Despite the overall increase in pet registrations, the number of newly registered dogs and cats in 2024 experienced a 10.4 percent decline compared to the previous year, totaling 271,000. The registration process, mandatory for dogs and optional for cats, is part of the government's efforts to manage the population of stray animals effectively.
The report also highlighted demographic trends among pet owners, with 60.9 percent of new registrations in 2024 being attributed to women. Individuals in their 40s were the largest age group among new pet owners, representing 25.1 percent, followed by those in their 30s at 22.1 percent. Furthermore, the data revealed that out of 113,000 stray pets rescued in 2024, 39.2 percent were returned to owners or rehomed, while 27.6 percent died of natural causes, and 18 percent were euthanized.
Amid these developments, the number of animal shelters operated by regional governments decreased to 228, a reduction from the previous year. However, funding for these facilities saw a significant increase of 26.8 percent, reaching a total of 37.4 billion won (US$26.9 million) in 2024, reflecting the government's continued commitment to animal welfare.