Those of us who take care of cats or dogs know that our furry friends always become
more than than just a pet.... they become part of the family.
As the number of pets in Korea continues to rise,.... related businesses are also looking
to cash in on this trend.
Our Lee Ju-young has more.
Office worker drops off her pet dog ...at this daycare center before going to work.
She says now that she sends her dog to school..., she doesn't have to worry about leaving him
alone at home anymore... and sees an improvement in 's behavior as well.
"I think it's the same as raising a child.
I'd spend a lot of time and effort if I were sending my child to kindergarten.
If I think of it that way, I don't think it's that expensive."
Despite the hefty price tag... ranging from about 225 dollars... to as much as 700 dollars
a month..., the school welcomes about 20 to 30 dogs a day on average.
The first thing they go through at the school.... is being assigned a home room teacher.
Then... after a general health check-up... teachers take about 15 minutes per student...
to play games designed to develop their intelligence.
[SOV] I'm getting ready to play a snack-finding game with them now.
It's good for enhancing their intelligence and helps relieve stress.
. .
After a long full day of play..., the dogs then enjoy a nice bath in a jacuzzi... before
getting dropped off at home.
The teachers...
even handwrite journals... to share with the owners what progress their dogs have made
that day.
"Puppies all have different personalities like children.
That's why when we plan programs for each dog, we tailor them to their condition and
health.
We get a lot of inspiration from kindergartens for children.
We adopt some of their programs and make them more suitable for dogs, and we plan to continue
doing that in the future."
Companies in the pet industry are actively making use of technology as well.
Take startup Pet Friends for example...
a premium pet shop located in a southern area in Seoul.
When a customer buys a product on the app, the order is registered immediately.
After being quickly packed up... with a handwritten manual..., the Pet Friends package is ready
to go.
Customers can receive their order within an hour -- as the company guarantees.
Pet Friends CEO says after launching its delivery service five months ago..., sales have skyrocketed
by 200 percent every month.
"Currently, we only deliver products.
But eventually, our goal is to provide all services related to companion animals through
delivery.
In other words, since busy pet owners always run into problems, especially if they live
alone, we hope to help find solutions for them.
According to the state-run Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, over one-fifth of the country's
households... or about ten-million people are said to be raising a pet as of 2015.
What's more, Korea Rural Economic Institute says the pet market... which was worth 811
million dollars back in 2012... grew to about two billion dollars as of last year.
Come 2020... and it's set to expand to five-point-two billion dollars.
"The population is on a decline.
But with the low birth rate and the graying population, the number of animals is on the
rise.
Why?
Because we now accept them as family.
If before, we used to put the focus on people, now I think services targeting pets will develop.
That's why it's only natural that this industry keeps growing.
This rapidly expanding market... is also contributing to job creation.
Korea Companion Animal Management Association says the number of people applying to become
a certified pet manager... has increased every year since 2012... to about 2-thousand-8-hundred-80
people last year.
Once certified..., the qualification opens many doors... allowing them to work at places
like animal hospitals and dog training centers... or become breeders.
With an increasing number of people demanding higher-quality services for their beloved
cats and dogs..., animal hospitals like this... are becoming more specialized.
This general hospital...
famous for its heart clinic... hires 17 veterinarians in total...
each with a specific concentration.
"One veterinarian can't treat everything.
In my case, I mainly do surgery and treat animals that are pregnant or have skin or
eye problems.
Some vets specialize in cardiology while others only treat cats.
There are also other vets for internal, chronic and hormonal disorders."
While goods and services for pets get better by the day..., experts say whether or not
they are happy... is a different matter.
They add that instead of stopping at providing them with material goods..., increasing interaction
and constant communication...
are some of the best ways to truly bond as a family.
Lee Ju-young, Arirang News.