Jinju-si, Construction of Comprehensive Pet Support Center ... Tour of Advanced Facilities

City Council, Opposing Residents, and Related Officials

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Jinju City, Gyeongnam announced on the 16th that it conducted a study tour of advanced facilities for the construction of the ‘Comprehensive Companion Animal Support Center’.

The city visited the ‘Daejeon Companion Animal Park,’ which operates two facilities?a companion animal support center and an animal protection center?after continuous opposition from nearby village residents around the Panmun-dong site, where the Comprehensive Companion Animal Support Center is planned to be built with one companion animal support center building and one animal protection center building.

In particular, the tour focused on eliminating prejudices against the animal protection center, which is the main cause of residents’ opposition, and on understanding and experiencing the facilities of the companion animal park.

Jinju City, Gyeongnam is visiting advanced facilities of the Comprehensive Support Center for Companion Animals.

The tour was attended by 50 people, including members of the Jinju City Council’s Economic Welfare Committee, residents opposing the construction, the Panmun-dong Volunteer Group Council, and related officials.

Upon arrival at Daejeon Companion Animal Park, participants walked about 150 meters from the entrance parking lot to the animal protection center, checking for noise and odors. They confirmed that most of the animal protection center’s space is indoors, so noise and odors hardly escape outside.

They also toured various facilities of the companion animal culture center, including animal behavior education rooms, seminar rooms, a pet caf?, pet shower rooms, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and an agility training ground?places where citizens and companion animals can enjoy together.

The city council members who participated in the tour said, “After touring the animal protection center, concerns about noise and odor complaints were alleviated. Jinju should benchmark the animal welfare facilities of the culture center and build facilities comparable to those in Daejeon.”

A member of the Panmun-dong volunteer group who accompanied the tour said, “Due to ongoing opposition from local residents, I came with preconceived notions about the facility, but after seeing it firsthand, the companion animal park is very well established, and the animal protection center is also well maintained. Most of the volunteer group members who attended today had their concerns dispelled.”

The opposing residents who attended acknowledged that the facilities are well made but expressed that construction near the village is not acceptable. On the way back from the tour, participants inspected the Panmun-dong site again and listened to the opinions of residents who would relocate.

Jinju City expects that by creating an advanced country-style park themed around animals, linking a zoo and a companion animal park for the first time in western Gyeongnam, visits by pet owners and tourists will increase, bringing new attention to Jinyangho Park.

A city official said, “This tour served as an opportunity to clarify misunderstandings about the facilities. We will continue to communicate and consult with residents to build a Comprehensive Companion Animal Support Center that can coexist with the community.”