published in the May 2019 printed issue of Groove Magazine

Seoul days are, at its worst, extremely hazardous to one’s health and well-being. At its best, clear blue skies cover the city and all residents can go out to open cafes and spaces to bask in the luxury of fresh air. Seoul was at its best one Monday morning as Marissa and Chloe, her nine-year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, stroll around Namsan Park. Aside from being home to Seoul’s iconic Namsan Tower, Namsan Park is a huge space of tranquility rising above the bustling city. It has idyllic walking trails perfect for families, children, and their fur babies.

Chloe takes her time nibbling the grass, smelling the flowers, relishing the attention of other people walking by, and greeting other dogs in their own doggy language. She looks calm and content strolling around but also perks up when another dog shows interest in spending time with her. Asked if Chloe goes to dog cafés for some playtime and dog socializing, Marissa isn’t too keen on the idea as Namsan Park provides ample opportunity for Chloe to interact with other dogs. Whenever she sees her dog friends in the park (dogs owned by Marissa’s friend who Chloe sometimes stays with when Marissa travels), she excitedly veers towards them to play just like old friends do.

Such is the ambiance at Namsan Park: family, kid, and pet-friendly. Dog owners living around the park regularly walk their dogs and meet and greet one another, when the weather and air quality permit.

Northwest of Seoul, in Ilsan, Teresa and her four toy poodles regularly take their walks in the concrete paved roads in their Western Dom neighborhood. Seven-year old Buttercup, mom to triplets Hana, George, and Sam, was brought to Korea by Teresa without knowing that she was pregnant. Remarkably Teresa, who always had a dog growing up, had Buttercup give birth to her triplets in their Ilsan apartment without the aid of a veterinarian. The puppies are now 3 years old and she calls them her “Kpups.”

Aside from walking them around their Western Dom neighborhood, the family also walks them around Ilsan Park. Or they bring them to dog-friendly malls like the IFC Mall in Yeoiudo, Starfield Mall in Goyang and Lotte Mall in Gimpo. These malls allow dogs in their common areas, but pets should be on a leash at all times. Some restaurants inside these malls provide for outdoor seating for pet owners, a good effort to balance the needs of pet owners and diners who desire to enjoy their meals without disturbance.

Dogs are now regular walking buddies, but they come as single partners to their owners. In some rare cases, a pet owner has two. So, how do people react to four toy poodles together? “When people see us walking our four fur babies, they find it either cute or they have this perplexed reaction,” says Teresa. She doesn’t really mind as she finds Korea a great place to raise her fur babies. In addition to her satisfaction with their veterinarian, she loves the dog apparel and accessories that are easily available, which is another indication how widely accepted dogs are now as members of the household.

Marissa’s Chloe is happy with occasional playdates with her canine friends and interactions at the park. Teresa’s four puppies don’t lack social interaction and play. They are a tight bunch and they are content to have each other. But for dog owners who want the opportunity for their fur babies to play with other dogs, Seoul has dog parks to cater to their needs. They play, run around and mingle with other dogs without a leash.

The dog playgrounds at Boramae Park and World Cup Park will now be open the whole year round, in contrast to previous years when these were closed during winter. This decision came after a successful winter trial at the World Cup Park dog playground. Groove talked to the park manager at World Cup Park and he said that, on average, there are around 300 dogs using the park during the weekends and a good number during the weekdays. Boramae Park was opened after its winter hiatus last February 2, 2019 and will no longer be closed during winter. The dog park at Children’s Grand Park is also now open but may still be closed for winter until further notice.

Because the dog playgrounds are enclosed areas, dogs play and mingle without leashes. But this freedom comes with a requirement. Only dogs registered with the Animal Protection Management System are allowed to get inside the gated playgrounds. For registration requirements, dog owners have to ensure that their dogs have up-to-date vaccinations. Their pet’s veterinarian will issue a certificate so their dogs can be registered and will have a corresponding registration number that will enable them to get inside the playgrounds.

Dog playgrounds have separate spaces for dogs of various sizes. At the playground at World Cup Park, small and medium-sized dogs with a maximum height of 40 cm are separated from larger dogs. When Groove visited the park, the park manager allowed a small dog to go in the big dogs’ space as there was only one big dog playing. This is rarely, if at all, done and the dog owners were inside the whole time. They were playful with each other, despite the huge difference in size.

The park manager is only on duty from 10 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon, but the park remains open for the rest of the day and night. It is the dog owners’ obligation to keep their dogs safe and the place clean.

Though more needs to be done in Korea for the well-being of dogs, much has already changed for the better in a country once known for its consumption of dog meat. The numerous dog-friendly parks are evidence of this.

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