Expansion of Medical Support Benefits for Pets of Vulnerable Groups to 100 Animals, Up to 500,000 KRW Medical Expense Support
Support for up to 2 Registered Dogs and Cats per Household Registered in Seongdong-gu, Once a Year
Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) is expanding the ‘Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital’ program to provide more medical support benefits to vulnerable companion animals.
Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital is a project that supports veterinary medical expenses for socioeconomically vulnerable households raising companion animals. The program expanded from 50 animals last year to a total of 100 animals this year, providing up to 500,000 KRW worth of medical expenses through budgets from Seoul City and Seongdong-gu, as well as talent donations from animal hospitals (about 100,000 KRW).
The support targets vulnerable households (basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty class, single-parent families) registered as residents in Seongdong-gu, and supports up to two registered dogs and cats per household once a year.
The treatment is divided into essential and optional treatments. Essential treatment provides basic checkups, vaccinations, and heartworm prevention worth about 300,000 KRW, with the guardian only paying a consultation fee of 10,000 KRW.
Optional treatment covers disease treatment costs found during essential treatment and neutering surgery costs, supporting up to 200,000 KRW.
Seongdong-gu’s Our Neighborhood Animal Hospital includes two locations: Aji Animal Hospital (Geumho-dong 4-ga) and Joeun Animal Hospital (Wangsimni 2-dong). Those wishing to use the service should bring their ID and proof documents (recipient certificate, near-poverty class confirmation, single-parent family certificate), make a phone reservation with the animal hospital, and then visit.
Seongdong-gu also supports adoption fees for adopters of abandoned or lost animals within the district. If an animal is adopted through the announcement of the Seongdong-gu Animal Protection Center (Korea Animal Rescue Management Association), up to 250,000 KRW is supported for expenses such as disease diagnosis fees, treatment fees, grooming fees, neutering surgery fees, embedded animal registration fees, and pet insurance subscription fees. To receive support for related expenses, applications must be submitted to the Women and Family Division of Seongdong-gu Office within six months from the adoption date.
Additionally, the district operates rest areas and playgrounds for companion dogs. In particular, the Songjeong Companion Dog Playground, created last December by utilizing idle space under Songjeong Bridge, can be used regardless of weather conditions and has received high praise from residents.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, "All companion animals are precious lives. We will work harder to eliminate welfare blind spots for companion animals and foster a culture of respect for life to prevent abandonment."
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