Across South Korea recently, abandoned pets are flooding adoption listings on the national animal protection information system. Descriptions read like advertisements: “Mixed-breed female in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, friendly and has beautiful features.”“Four two-month-old puppies in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, absolutely adorable.”“Male Pomeranian found at the entrance of the Guksabong hiking trail in Seoul, gentle and in good condition except for a skin condition on his back.” These are the very traits that once made people bring them home—only to later discard them.
From Feb. 5 to March 5, a total of 2,269 dogs and cats were registered at public shelters across the country, about 75 pets abandoned every day. As pet ownership surpasses 15 million in South Korea, the number of strays is rising just as rapidly.
Take Oh, a 39-year-old mother raising two daughters in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province. Last year, she bought a Bichon Frise for her eldest child’s birthday. Soon after, her younger daughter begged for her own puppy, promising to take full responsibility. Giving in, Oh brought home a Maltese. The two puppies became like siblings, bringing joy and comfort to the family.
But when left alone in the apartment during the day, the Bichon Frise dominated the Maltese, leaving it anxious, underfed, and frequently injured. The younger dog whined for attention, seeking comfort from any human nearby. Oh’s younger daughter, who had promised to care for the dog, soon tired of walking it and cleaning up after it.
As the Maltese grew, her daughter lost interest, saying, “It’s not cute anymore.” Medical expenses piled up, including patella luxation surgery, eye treatments, grooming fees, and spaying costs. The once-beloved pet became an unwanted burden.
Now, Oh is searching for a way to rehome the dog. Private shelters that prioritize adoption over pet sales demanded hefty lifetime care fees. Abandoning it in a remote area felt too cruel—for now.
Desperate, she overheard a child on the subway telling their parent, “I want a puppy.” Without thinking, she turned and blurted out, “Would you like to take mine?”
As single-person households and child-free couples increase, South Korea’s pet market has surged to 5 trillion won. Pet strollers now outsell baby strollers, pet supplements replace children’s vitamins on pharmacy shelves, and luxury services like gourmet pet restaurants and designer coats are booming.
Yet behind this prosperity, a grim reality unfolds. According to government data, nearly 120,000 pets were abandoned last year, but with private shelters included, the number is estimated at 200,000 to 300,000. More pets are also left behind as elderly or single owners pass away.
A survey found that nearly half of pet owners have considered giving up their animals. In South Korea, fewer than 20% of pets spend their entire lives with a single owner. Around 70% of abandoned animals are dogs, most commonly dumped when they reach about a year old—just as they lose their puppy-like charm. Senior dogs, over 10 years old, are the second most abandoned group.
Owners often blame their pets' “problematic behavior” for giving them up. Complaints include potty training issues, chewing, shedding, nighttime howling, aggression, frequent illnesses, and losing interest when a breed goes out of fashion. But many of these are just natural instincts that become “problems” in human eyes.
Living in small apartments makes these issues worse, as dogs struggle to express normal behaviors. Keeping a pet tiny and cute forever would require costly procedures and constant care, neither of which most owners are willing to commit to. Rising pet food and medical costs are also driving more abandonments.
Some argue that policies aimed at supporting pet ownership only make abandonment easier. Last year, the government considered introducing a “pet tax” modeled after policies in other countries, designed to ensure only responsible owners take in animals. But due to strong public opposition, with concerns like “Are pets only for the rich?” and “A tax will lead to more abandoned animals,” the idea was ultimately scrapped.
