DP unveils plan to help pet owners' financial burden, stray cats

Pet owners in Korea, including foreigners, could pay smaller medical fees for their pets under the ruling Democratic Party’s (DP) unveiled initiatives centered on animal welfare.

The DP announced the pledges — including a plan to expand tax exemptions on veterinary bills, set standard fees for animal treatment and increase the number of public animal hospitals designated by local governments across the country — on Wednesday, ahead of the June 3 local elections.

A DP representative confirmed to the Korea JoongAng Daily on Friday that foreigners will be eligible for the expanded tax exemptions.

While pet owners can currently receive a 10 percent tax exemption on their pets’ hospitalizations and surgeries, this benefit does not apply to certain health screening packages and nonmedical care services. As of Sunday, however, the DP has yet to reveal which specific services will fall under its expansion plan.

As for the DP’s push to standardize veterinary fees, the plan follows a survey by The Voice for Consumers in 2025, which showed that first-visit fees at 3,950 animal hospitals nationwide ranged from 1,000 won ($0.60) to 61,000 won, depending on the region.

“In particular, the government will set standard veterinary fees for essential services by introducing them at publicly designated animal hospitals before gradually expanding them to private clinics that voluntarily follow the standards,” the DP said.

The party’s initiative to increase the number of public animal hospitals will further alleviate the financial burden for many pet owners, as veterinary hospitals operated by local governments provide services such as vaccinations and basic treatment at reduced costs.   

The DP’s animal welfare plan is a result of the increase in veterinary care costs per household. Pet-owning households spent an average of 1.5 million won on veterinary fees last year, nearly double the 787,000 won recorded in 2023, according to a report from the KB Financial Group in 2025.

The DP’s promises do not just cover pets — they also cover stray cats.

“The DP will order local governments to establish centers for stray cats that will provide rescue, care, feeding and adoption support services to help ease issues caused by [the animals],” the DP said. 

The speed at which the party can implement these plans is partly contingent on the results of the upcoming local elections, during which voters will choose mayors and governors who have the authority to carry out animal welfare policies at the local level. 

Local governments must abide by the law, but mayors and governors can deprioritize projects or delay implementing policies.

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has held 12 out of 17 local government head posts since the 2022 elections, which took place about three months after then-PPP candidate Yoon Suk Yeol was elected president.

This year’s local elections come after President Lee Jae Myung was elected in June last year.

Foreign nationals in Korea can vote in local elections — though not in presidential or parliamentary ones — if they are at least 18 years old, hold permanent residency and have maintained that status for at least three years as of election day.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]