"Move Out If You Have a Cat"... Controversy Grows Over Incheon Officetel Notice

Controversy Over Notice Restricting Cat Ownership
and Requesting Households With Cats to Move Out

An officetel in Cheongna International City, Incheon, has sparked controversy by posting a notice claiming that, based on a residents’ meeting decision, the keeping of certain animals-including cats-would be restricted, and requesting that households with cats move out.

A notice prohibiting cat breeding posted in an officetel in Incheon. Instagram thread

According to social media posts on January 6, the management office of an officetel in Cheongna International City, Seo-gu, Incheon, announced that following a residents’ meeting held last month, cats, ferrets, rabbits, raccoons, and other animals were designated as prohibited pets.

In the notice, the management office stated, “Households keeping cats must install an induction safety cover,” and added, “For those who must keep cats, we politely request that you move elsewhere.”

The management office reportedly explained that this request was made in the interest of resident safety, referencing a fire incident involving a cat that occurred in September of last year.

However, after the notice was posted on social media the previous day, it drew more than 600 comments and ongoing criticism. One resident who posted the notice commented, “I found it problematic that the notice simply linked ‘if you keep cats, move out’ without a detailed explanation of the cause of the fire,” and argued, “The overall operation of the officetel has been unreasonable for some time.”

Other online users who saw the post also responded, “It is unfair to extend the responsibility for an individual accident to all animals of a certain type,” “If a fire is caused by someone’s carelessness, are you going to evict that person?” and “It is a matter of personal freedom, so requesting people to move out is excessive.”

On the other hand, some users noted that since an actual fire incident had occurred, the measure could be seen as a safety precaution. Others commented, “Cats can climb onto induction stoves, increasing the risk of fire,” and “This can be seen as a safety request to prevent fires.”

In response, an officetel representative explained, “This was discussed and decided at the residents’ meeting, and we are merely posting a notice,” adding, “It is not a compulsory measure but a request for the cooperation of residents.”