Seoul: Nearly 3 out of 10 households in South Korea raise pets, mostly dogs, government data showed Tuesday. A survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs revealed that 29.2 percent of households were raising pets at home in 2025.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the survey indicated that among these pet-owning households, 80.5 percent raised dogs, 14.4 percent raised cats, and 4.1 percent kept fish. Pet owners spent an average of 121,000 won (US$84) per month on their pets. This survey represents South Korea's first nationally approved statistical survey on pet ownership.

In a separate survey on animal welfare, also conducted by the agriculture ministry, less than half of the respondents believed that pet owners are properly complying with pet-related requirements, such as using leashes and identification tags. The perception varied significantly based on pet ownership status, with 86.9 percent of pet owners claiming compliance with the rules, compared to only 39.9 percent of non-owners.

Regarding penalties for animal abuse, 93.2 percent of respondents supported stronger punishments for those who abuse animals, including potential bans on animal ownership.