First local government in South Korea to introduce 'Pet-Friendly Space' certification, with an award ceremony and roundtable held at Illow in Gijang-gun on Oct. 15 at 1:40 PM

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Jeon Jae-soo) and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency announced that they will hold the "2026 Pet-Friendly Partners Day: Happier Together" today (the 15th) at 1:40 PM at Illow in Gijang-gun, designated as Busan's No. 1 Pet-Friendly Space for 2026.

Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, along with around 30 representatives from certified pet-friendly businesses, will attend the event to present certificates and hold an intimate roundtable discussion for on-site communication.

Co-hosted by the city and the Busan Economic Promotion Agency, the event will begin with the presentation of certification plaques to selected businesses, followed by the roundtable. This "Pet-Friendly Space" certification marks a first among local governments nationwide in South Korea.

While the city has previously laid the foundation for nurturing the local pet industry through startup, R&D, and market-expansion support programs, it plans to create new industrial demands this year by establishing pet service industries—including accommodations, restaurants, grooming, and pet-sitting—as Busan's unique specialized brand.

The selection of the "Busan Pet-Friendly Space" targeted businesses excelling in hygiene and safety among local pet service facilities. A total of 10 companies were finalized after rigorous evaluations encompassing hygiene, safety, operations, and global services:

Pet-Friendly Restaurants: Illow (Gijang-gun), Pause Dog (Nam-gu), Fruitery Forest (Haeundae-gun)
Pet-Friendly Accommodations: Signiel Busan (Haeundae-gun), Youngmu Parade Hotel (Haeundae-gun)
Pet Grooming Shops: Labu (Suyeong-gu), Premium Pet Salon Soun (Suyeong-gu)
Pet Care & Boarding Facilities: La Mersio (Haeundae-gun), Big Four Club (Busanjin-gu), With Walwal (Dongnae-gu)

The selection process began with a public call for applications in July, evaluated by panels of industry experts. Based on five core criteria—mandatory legal permits, hygiene (systematic management such as disinfection), safety (accident prevention and emergency response), operations (dedicated staff and customer service levels), and Busan specialization (multilingual services and pet-friendly content)—the top 10 companies were selected in August following high scores.

Selected businesses will receive a certificate and plaque under the name of the Mayor of Busan, along with benefits such as customized capacity building and promotional support. The certification remains valid for three years from the selection date.

To support facility improvements, capability enhancement, and promotion, 9 million won will be provided to each selected enterprise. Joint promotions and marketing campaigns for certified businesses are also planned for their second and third years.

Following the certification ceremony, the "Partners Roundtable" will listen to the vivid voices and feedback of the certified businesses, fostering close communication to shape future policies for pet industry development.

"The world is currently paying attention to a massive blue ocean market called the 'pet economy,'" stated Mayor Jeon Jae-soo. "I hope that the enterprises certified as Busan Pet-Friendly Spaces will inject new vitality into the local economy and position themselves as leading players driving the pet economy market."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]