애견동반 휴양림Mr. Heo, who thought that increasing the number of natural recreation forests where pets are allowed would also help revitalize the economy of regions with natural recreation forests, proposed the introduction of a so-called ‘dog zone’, a dog-friendly area in natural recreation forests, at the ‘Gyeongnam Provincial Government Proposal Plaza’ on the 10th of last month. The ‘Gyeongnam Provincial Government Proposal Plaza’ is a meeting where Gyeongnam Province officials of Grade 5 or lower directly make provincial government-related proposals to the governor, and Gyeongnam Province has been holding it once a month since February.
On the 8th, Gyeongnam Province announced, “In order to actively respond to the rapidly increasing trend of people raising pets due to the increase in nuclear families and single-person households, we have decided to promote the introduction of forest recreation facilities where pets are allowed.” After reviewing Mr. Heo’s proposal, it was determined that “it is worth accepting it as a policy and implementing it in the field.”
There are 23 natural recreation forests in Gyeongnam Province, including 3 national, 1 provincial, 16 city/county, and 3 private. Gyeongnam Province plans to collect opinions from operators of natural recreation forests in the first half of this year, reorganize facilities, and then expand pet-friendly areas starting with Geumwonsan Natural Recreation Forest, a Gyeongnam Province-run facility, in the second half of the year. Facility maintenance will likely involve improving guestroom walls and floors to prevent hair, footprints, and odors, as well as installing pet playgrounds. Standards for the types and sizes of pets that are allowed should also be established. Countermeasures should also be established for complaints that non-pet owners may raise. The most important thing is safety accident prevention measures.
Joo Dong-yeol, an official in charge of the Gyeongnam Province Forest Recreation Division, said, “We will promote the introduction of pet-friendly forest recreation facilities, but we will proceed cautiously, not in a rush.”
Meanwhile, according to the results of the ‘2022 National Survey on Animal Protection’ announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in February, 25.4% of all households in Korea keep pets. The number of pets they raise is approximately 15.5 million, including 5.44 million dogs, 2.54 million cats, and 7.48 million others. However, there are only four national forest recreation facilities where pets are allowed: Saneum Natural Recreation Forest in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, Geommasan Natural Recreation Forest in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Cheongwansan Natural Recreation Forest in Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, and Hwacheon Forest Campground in Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do. Reporter Choi Sang-won csw@hani.co.kr
