[Arts & Culture] Canines in Korean cafés; harmless fun or a health hazard? скачать в хорошем качестве

[Arts & Culture] Canines in Korean cafés; harmless fun or a health hazard?

‘집에 혼자 두기 싫어’ 펫팸족, 3월부터 반려동물과 일상생활 속 동반가능해진다 Pet owners here in South Korea will be able to bring their dogs and cats with them in cafés and restaurants starting this March. For more, we have our culture correspondent Park Kun-woo with us. Welcome, Kun-woo. Great to be here. Kun-woo, pets in cafes? With more Koreans raising pets these days an estimated 15-million across the country many owners have wanted to take their companions with them when they go out. Until now, only limited places, like some shopping centers, have been allowed to let pets indoors, while venues that handle food have been strictly prohibited from doing so. Some places that allowed pets were even operating in a legal grey area. For more, follow me as we take a look at how this will all work out. Fluffy pups sit on chairs and enjoy a "puppuccino." Some lie down as if completely at home, with their owners enjoying their coffee alongside them. Until now in Korea, most restaurants and cafés have not allowed pets indoors due to hygiene issues. But starting March 1st, stores that choose to comply with some new regulations are able to welcome cats and dogs alongside their owners, just like this one. "As dogs live shorter than we do, every moment feels precious. If more places become pet-friendly, I hope my family can go to places like these more comfortably without feeling self-conscious." "It's been hard to find places where we could go together, but with this change, I think we'll be able to spend more time together when we go out for meals. I also hope that more places beyond restaurants and cafés will allow pets to enter." Key standards for stores seeking to become pet-friendly include maintaining distance between pets and other customers, and installing pet seats or leash fixtures to prevent animals from moving freely. Pets are also strictly banned from entering food-handling zones, including kitchens with physical barriers installed. If these conditions are met, and approval is granted by local governments, businesses can officially register as pet-friendly establishments. "The new laws mean pets could become a more common sight in places like this café. But there is also a backlash from those concerned about pets in public places." "I'm worried my young nephews could get bitten or startled and possibly hurt as they might want to touch people's pets. My husband's also allergic to cats, so I think this could be uncomfortable for some people." Some café owners also worry about misunderstandings between customers with pets and those without. "Requirements like vaccination checks are now part of the process, so we make sure to read and understand these rules because we have to comply. But if customers aren't fully aware of them, there could be some communication issues when we try to explain the rules." But with greater promotion and institutional support from the government ahead, opportunities for those willing to spend more time with their pets are expected to increase. While the new policy will possibly take some time to settle. What might some of the challenges be? According to the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, there were around 800-thousand food service business owners as of the end of 2023. And as around 70 percent of that total operate small establishments of 100 square meters or less, the organization said it could be difficult for those places to meet distancing requirements. It also noted that as many owners are tenants, it makes it harder to modify facilities to become pet-friendly. Meanwhile, the number of officially registered pet-friendly establishments remains limited. So, the Seocho-gu District office in southern Seoul, one of the leading authorities in the pilot program that ended last year, says it's working to find practical solutions. "We plan to promote successful cases through social media so the system can take root in a way that considers everyone. We are also providing consultations through a pre-review service to help businesses focus on hygiene and safety management and participate in the program. If budget conditions allow in the future, we will consider further support." But the store owners should also be aware of penalties given if they don't meet the rules. If pets enter food-handling areas or are allowed to move freely in violation of the rules, businesses could face suspension of operations for up to 20 days upon a third offense. That's why local governments plan to inform business owners that violations of these requirements could result in administrative penalties, so they can comply and avoid disadvantages. Regular follow-up inspections will also be carried out... #Family #Pet #Dog #Pet_friendly #Places #Café #Restaurants #펫팸족 #반려견 #반려동물 #동반 #카페 #식당 #데일리 #Arirang #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook :   / arirangtvnews   📣 Youtube :    / Канал   📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2026-02-27, 20:00 (KST)