Suncheon City sets out to create a city that is great for living with pets and for tourism

【Financial News, Suncheon = Hwang Tae-jong, Reporter】Suncheon City is drawing attention as it works to create a city that is great for living with pets and for tourism, building on the region’s distinctive ecological resources.
 In particular, the city has won praise from pet owners for launching the ‘Daengdaeng Suncheon Half-Price Trip’ for the first time in the second half of this year. Under the program, visitors from other regions who come to Suncheon with their pets, visit designated tourist attractions and spend at least 50,000 won locally can receive a refund of half their expenses, up to 100,000 won, in Suncheon Love Gift Certificates.
 A Suncheon City official stressed, "Pets are family members and companions in life," adding, "Through various policies, we will work to make Suncheon a city where people and pets can be happy together."
 According to Suncheon City on the 16th, it is the first and only ‘pet-tourism-friendly city’ in the Jeonnam region. With various ecological spaces in the city where people can spend time with their pets, including Ocheon Green Plaza, Jorye Lake Park and Dongcheon Riverside Park, Suncheon offers rest and healing not only to people but also to pets.
 The city also opened the ‘Pet Culture Center’ in August 2023, the first of its kind in the Honam region, to promote a mature pet culture. It runs a range of educational and hands-on programs throughout the year that pet owners and non-pet owners can attend together. These include ‘Meongnyang Citizens’ School,’ which offers practical guidance on proper pet care, understanding animal behavior and pet etiquette, helping novice pet owners build their caregiving skills and fostering a responsible pet culture. Participatory programs such as ‘Our Neighborhood Meongnyang Classroom,’ where residents and pets can enjoy activities together, are also expanding opportunities for communication and exchange.


 Suncheon City launched the ‘Daengdaeng Suncheon Half-Price Trip’ for the first time in the second half of this year, taking into account a 2024 Korea Tourism Organization survey showing that tourists traveling with pets spend about 3.3 times as much as regular tourists. The strategy is to attract visitors by covering half their expenses, up to 100,000 won, thereby easing the financial burden on pet owners, while also stimulating the local economy through the local currency.
 The city is also continually developing content that lets visitors bring their pets and enjoy Suncheon’s natural environment, such as ‘Daengdaeng Suncheon: Fun Saturday.’ The second edition of ‘Fun Saturday’ will take place on the 24th at Ocheon Green Plaza, featuring ‘Running Puppy,’ where pet owners and their dogs run together.
 After running pet water-play programs last August, including ‘2026 Daengdaeng Suncheon: Seal Alert’ and ‘Daengter Park,’ Suncheon City continues to expand seasonal offerings, including the ‘Daengdaeng Sports Day’ pet athletics event held on the 3rd.
 Suncheon City is also giving pets roles to help them become accepted members of society. To strengthen the local safety network, the city has operated the ‘Suncheon City Companion Dog Volunteer Group, Sundaengi’ since March. Pet owners patrol while walking their dogs, and the group has so far carried out 672 walking patrols and made 109 reports in coordination with agencies.
 Starting in November, the city plans to pilot ‘Banryeo-it Care,’ a therapeutic care program connecting discharged patients with pets. A pet instructor and a trained animal will form a team and visit patients’ homes. The aim is for patients to bond with the animals by greeting them, taking walks and taking photos, and to receive comfort that only pets can provide.  Suncheon City plans to run the pilot for two months before beginning full operations in March next year.
 A Suncheon City official said, "Through programs such as ‘Sundaengi’ and ‘Banryeo-it Care,’ we plan to promote positive attitudes toward pets and create a city where people and pets thrive together." The official added, "We will also respond to the rapidly changing tourism landscape, expand high-value pet-friendly offerings and strengthen the city’s competitiveness."

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