"Charging at a 5-Year-Old Child and Growling"... 496-Pyeong Pet Dog Playground, Only One Manager Available

15 Dog Parks in Seoul Area
"Professional Staff Needed to Prevent Emergencies"

As the number of pet owners increases, 'dog parks' where dogs can run freely have opened nationwide, but there are concerns that the management and supervision systems to prevent safety accidents are insufficient. Experts emphasize that in places where many dogs gather at once, frequent abnormal behaviors such as dog bites and barking occur, so managers with specialized knowledge should be stationed on-site.

A pet dog is playing at a dog playground in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Lee Seohee

According to Seoul City on the 30th, there are currently 15 dog parks operating in Seoul, with 4 managed by Seoul City and 11 managed by autonomous districts. Seoul City has been expanding dog parks since July 2013, starting with Children's Grand Park in Neung-dong, Gwangjin-gu, followed by World Cup Park in Mapo-gu in 2014, and Boramae Park in Dongjak-gu in 2016.

Including the parks opening in Nowon-gu and Guro-gu in October, the number of dog parks operating in Seoul will increase to 17 by the end of this year. The average daily number of users is also rising. In the first half of this year, the dog parks at World Cup Park in Mapo-gu and Boramae Park in Dongjak-gu, the largest in Seoul, recorded average daily users of 350 and 411, respectively.

However, due to the lax operation and management system, users experience considerable inconvenience when using dog parks. According to Seoul City's dog park usage rules, dogs with biting tendencies, in heat, or with diseases, including the five types of dangerous dogs specified in the Animal Protection Act, are restricted from using the facilities, but there are no specialized personnel on-site to manage and supervise this.

In fact, at a dog park in Mapo-gu, Seoul, which was visited directly, dangerous situations occasionally occurred. A Pomeranian running around the park rushed at a 5-year-old child accompanied by parents, and a dog showing signs of biting got into a fight with another dog. There was only one manager stationed at this park, which combines small/medium and large dog areas totaling 1,638㎡ (about 495 pyeong). Even this manager’s role was limited to checking the animal registration chip implanted in dogs and briefly explaining usage rules whenever owners and their dogs entered.

Haga-yeon (37), who frequently uses dog parks, said, "I heard that Seoul City operates dog parks where dogs can run freely, so I drive a long way to visit. It’s fine when there are few users, but on busy weekend afternoons, I have witnessed several near dog bite accidents. No matter how carefully owners supervise their dogs, it seems difficult to control sudden barking or abnormal behavior. I think specialized personnel should be assigned."

However, Seoul City maintains that the responsibility for managing and supervising dogs lies entirely with the owners. A Seoul City official explained, "The managers stationed on-site are hired through Seoul City's senior job program, and it is difficult for them to prevent or manage incidents and accidents occurring on-site. The responsibility for managing and supervising problem behaviors such as dog bites and barking lies with the owners."

Experts emphasize the need for managers with relevant knowledge to be stationed at government facilities where many dogs gather. Jo Gyeong, head of the Education Center at the Korea Companion Animal Promotion Institute, pointed out, "To prevent common incidents such as dog bites and infectious diseases, thorough management and supervision are needed from the moment dogs enter. It is practically difficult for seniors without any animal-related knowledge to perform this role. Professional personnel with animal-related knowledge or certified qualifications should be stationed to manage."