'Because Even Old Cars Are Precious'... 'Puppy Paw Prints' Appear in Shopping Mall Parking Lot

Parking space about 20cm wider than usual
Netizens' reactions to the photo sharply divided

A marking presumed to be a parking space designated for dog owners was spotted at a shopping center in Gyeonggi Province, sparking a buzz among netizens. On the 28th, an online community post titled "There’s already a shortage of parking spaces for large families, and now there’s a parking spot exclusively for dog owners?" was shared along with a photo.

The photo was taken and shared by an X (formerly Twitter) user named A, who explained that they discovered it while visiting 'OO Outlet.' The image shows a parking lot floor marked with what appears to be dog paw prints, similar to family-friendly parking and disabled parking spaces.

A zone presumed to be a considerate parking area for dogs was spotted at a shopping center in Gyeonggi-do, sparking buzz among netizens.
[Photo by Getty Images, X (formerly Twitter)]

The photo shows a parking space marked in yellow. The parking lines are double-lined. Double-lined parking spaces are about 20 cm wider than regular spots to prevent accidents during boarding, alighting, and vehicle passage. Reactions from netizens who saw the photo were mixed. Those who agreed with A’s opinion commented, "Soon there might be a pig parking lot," "Is this really necessary?" and "Even as a pet owner, I think this is a bit much."

On the other hand, some netizens responded, "If dogs outnumber babies, this could become common," "I understand why such parking spaces are appearing," and "Maybe these are parking spots for users of pet-friendly facilities."

Meanwhile, a 2023 survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs revealed that 28.2% of the total population are pet owners.