It’s a common sight across South Korea: Puppies, ranging from tiny Maltese to fluffy Pomeranians, peer out from stacked glass boxes at pet shops along city streets or in department stores, anxiously wagging their tails inside their cages. 

These stores are where many would-be pet owners find their next furry family member, welcoming places filled with cute animals.

But they also belie more troubling aspects about the pet industry in South Korea: Just outside most cities, overcrowded animal shelters are forced to euthanize dogs that don’t find homes.

In 2022, humane shelters across the country euthanized 19,000 dogs due to space constraints, according to data from the ROK Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This figure is notably higher than in Japan, where around 2,700 dogs faced a similar fate between April 2021 and March 2022, as per Japan’s Ministry of the Environment.

The situation has sparked a debate over the ethics of pet ownership and the need for regulatory intervention. Activists are pushing for laws to limit puppy sales and improve shelter conditions, but they face strong opposition from the pet industry.

Puppies on display in a pet shop in downtown Seoul, Dec. 13, 2023 | Image: Korea Pro

BEHIND GLASS WALLS

South Korea’s pet industry operates on a system where breeders auction their dogs to pet shops across the nation, while the auction houses generate income via commission.

“A fundamental problem is the system that treats life as a commodity,” Kim Hyunji, a general manager at the Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), told Korea Pro. “Every year, some 200,000 to 300,000 dogs are sold within South Korea’s multi-tiered distribution system of roughly 2,100 breeding farms, 18 auction houses and over 4,000 pet shops.”

The cost of a puppy varies widely. In one leading pet shop chain in Seoul, prices range from $1,900 to $4,900 (2.5 to 6.5 million won). A pet shop employee explained to Korea Pro the grim reality for those puppies that fail to quickly find homes: “Unsold puppies are discounted or shuttled between stores.”

A puppy that costs more than $4,900 on display in a department store in Seoul, Dec. 13, 2023 | Image: Korea Pro

Consumer preferences are a significant driver of this industry. Data from Kookmin Bank indicates that 29% of South Koreans buy dogs from pet stores, whereas only 11% adopt them from shelters. Additionally, there’s a marked preference for purebred dogs, with nearly 80% of owners opting for purebreds over mixed breeds.

But the appeal of these pet shop animals obscures underlying abuses. Much of the mistreatment occurs out of sight, according to Feriel Yasmine Mahiddine, a Ph.D. student in veterinary medicine and a former insider of South Korea’s pet industry.

“Many breeders have farms where they keep breeding dogs in poor conditions. Meanwhile, they keep the pretty puppies at home or in the pet shop and only display them when a prospective buyer contacts them to purchase a dog. In many European countries, official breeders need to keep records of their work. In South Korea, there are fewer rules and regulations,” Mahiddine said.

However, not all mistreatment happens behind closed doors. Mahiddine notes that significant mistreatment is also visible in retail stores, pointing toward the conditions in which many pet shops keep their dogs.

Many stores confine puppies in small glass boxes for extended periods, preventing the dogs from socializing with other dogs or getting enough exercise. Korea Pro observed puppies in numerous pet shops in Seoul stepping on their own waste and displaying signs of distress, such as jumping against the confines of their glass enclosures.

“The impact [of keeping puppies in confined spaces] is most dramatic on the dog’s mental health,” Mahiddine explained. “Walking a dog helps it to develop social traits and habits that are essential for its welfare and for building a bond with its future owner. Not having that experience can make it difficult for the dog to bond with its new owner. Additionally, dogs are very social animals; isolating them can traumatize them and lead to abnormal behaviors later on.”

Puppies in South Korean pet shops typically remain in small enclosures without walks, leading them to defecate in these confined spaces, Dec. 13, 2023 | Image: Korea Pro

SEEKING REFORM

To put a halt to the mistreatment of animals in South Korea’s pet industry, animal rights groups, supported by Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon, have proposed legislation to reform the pet industry.

The law, inspired by the U.K.’s “Lucy’s Law,” seeks to overhaul the current system by banning the sale of puppies in pet shops and auction houses, restricting the sale of puppies under six months old and capping the number of animals in breeding facilities at 100.

But the proposal has met with resistance from industry stakeholders. Animal rights activist Kim revealed that soon after the law’s introduction in the National Assembly, organizations representing auction houses and pet shops began to lobby against it.

Korea Pro’s inquiries to various pet shop owners and the Korea Companion Animal Association — a group representing the pet industry’s interests — went unanswered.

A puppy attempts to climb out of its glass cage in a pet shop in Seoul, Dec. 13, 2023 | Image: Korea Pro

Animal rights advocate Kim emphasized the need for a cultural shift toward adopting pets to address the problems in South Korea’s puppy industry. 

Yim Seung-hye, a Seoul resident and dog owner, has seen her own views on the matter change after she purchased her first dog from a pet shop.

“I wasn’t aware of the dark side of the pet industry back then,” she told Korea Pro. 

She said that she chose to adopt her second dog, Bori, after learning the extent of mistreatment dogs face.

“I think a lot of people hesitate to adopt dogs from shelters because they would rather just get a new one,” Yim said, adding that adopting a dog is a challenging but rewarding experience. “It’s not always easy. Bori has difficulty adjusting to new surroundings. So when we go on vacation, we have to ask my parents or in-laws to take care of him.”

Despite the challenges, Yim is resolute in her stance against purchasing from pet shops. She advises prospective pet owners to consider adoption. 

“Never buy dogs from a pet shop,” she said, “but also think really hard before deciding to adopt one.”

Joon Ha Park and Lina Park contributed reporting to this article. Edited by John Lee.