380,000 Won to Bring Them Home, 460,000 Won to Say Goodbye... Pets "Born in the Heart, Raised with the Wallet" [Pet & Life]

A First-Time Dog Owner's Journey in Pet Care <1>
Lifetime Costs of Companion Animals, from Adoption to Funeral
Three in Ten Koreans Are Pet Owners... The Expanding Pet Economy

Editor's noteThe number of households with companion animals in Korea is approaching 6 million. As the number of single-person households increases and the birth rate declines, living with companion animals has become part of everyday life, and companion animals have become family members closer than blood relatives. From adoption to feeding, clothing, medical care, and the final moment, companion caretakers face a series of choices. [Pet & Life] follows the life cycle of companion animals from the perspective of first-time dog owners, sheds light on the new lifestyle created by companion culture, and takes an in-depth look at the "Pet Economy," which has grown into a 9 trillion won annual market.

"Born in the heart, raised with the wallet."

This is an expression often heard among companion caretakers. Companion animals provide emotional stability during the caregiving process, but they also come with a significant financial burden. The adoption fee is a one-time cost. Spending on pet food, daily supplies, grooming, and medical care recurs. In particular, as the social perception that "companion animals are members of the family" spreads, the lifetime cost of caring for them continues to rise.

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According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 13th, the domestic companion animal market is expected to more than double from 9 trillion won (about 6.2 billion dollars) in 2022 to 22 trillion won (about 15.2 billion dollars) in 2032. A market that used to be focused on food and treats is expanding into medical care, insurance, education, travel, and funerals, evolving into what is called the "Pet Economy."

The number of households raising companion animals is also on the rise. The number of such households increased from 5.31 million in 2019 to 5.91 million in 2024, and to around 6 million last year. The population of companion caretakers shows a similar trend. The number of people with companion animals rose from 14.77 million in 2019 to 15.41 million in 2023 and 15.46 million in 2024, and is estimated to have reached around 15.5 million last year. Put simply, about 3 out of every 10 people in the country live with companion animals.

Average adoption fee 380,000 won, up to 10 million won for professional breeders

The starting point of lifetime spending on companion animals is the adoption fee. According to the KB Management Research Institute, the average amount spent by households with companion animals on adoption fees last year was 380,000 won, up 100,000 won from 2023 (280,000 won). The distribution of adoption fees has also changed noticeably. In 2021, the share of households paying "no adoption fee" was the largest at 43%, but it fell to 39.9% last year. By contrast, the share of households spending 1 million won or more increased more than fourfold over the same period, from 3.1% to 13.5%. The 500,000 to 990,000 won range also rose from 7.5% to 16.3%. Analysts say the structure is shifting from low-cost adoption to mid- and high-cost adoption.

By type of animal, the average adoption fee for dogs was 420,000 won, and for cats it was 290,000 won. By adoption channel, "multi-purpose pet shops" had an average fee of 890,000 won, up 240,000 won from 2023 (650,000 won). "General dog centers" averaged 780,000 won, an increase of 210,000 won over the same period. Adoption through "professional breeders (those who specialize in specific breeds, adhere to ethical and welfare standards, and systematically manage breeding and bloodlines)" averaged 1.01 million won, up 310,000 won from 2023 (700,000 won). Depending on the preferred breed and whether a pedigree certificate is issued, adoption fees ranged from 3 million won to 10 million won.

Food accounts for half of caregiving costs, hospital bills are large lump-sum expenses

During the caregiving stage, the main expense category is the monthly caregiving cost that recurs every month. The average monthly caregiving cost for households with companion animals increased from 140,000 won in 2021 to 154,000 won in 2023, and rose further to 194,000 won last year. By category, food expenses accounted for more than 56% of the total, making up the largest share.

Medical treatment is a lifetime expense item that occurs intermittently but is large in scale. Over the past two years, the average amount households with companion animals spent on veterinary treatment was 1,027,000 won, nearly double the 577,000 won spent in 2023. The share of households spending 1 million won or more also rose to 26.2%, up 7.4 percentage points from the previous 18.8%. Average treatment costs were 1,433,000 won for dogs and 1,032,000 won for cats.

By age, treatment costs for dogs started to increase from age 4, with a steep rise after age 7, when they are considered elderly. For cats, spending on treatment increased after ages 3 and 6. Among treatment categories, skin disease treatment was the most common, accounting for 46%. When cancer surgery is required, additional costs for biopsy, imaging tests, hospitalization, and chemotherapy are added on top of the surgery fee, and the total cost can rise from several million won to tens of millions of won.

When the costs incurred during visits to animal hospitals over the past two years are converted into an average per animal, the figure was 1,298,000 won for dogs and 890,000 won for cats. Among dog breeds, Shih Tzu had the highest hospital visit rate, with 80.6% having visited a hospital. This was followed by Maltese (68.5%), Poodle (66.9%), and Bichon Frise (63.3%). Among cats, Scottish Fold had the highest visit rate at 56.3%.

Average funeral cost 460,000 won... people in their 40s hold the most dedicated funds

The final stage of lifetime spending is the funeral. The average amount spent on companion animal funerals last year was 464,000 won, up 83,000 won from 2023 (380,000 won). The increase was particularly pronounced among households with companion animals living in the Seoul metropolitan area and in multi-unit housing. In particular, households in multi-unit housing spent an average of 461,000 won, an increase of 88,000 won from 2023, marking the largest increase among all survey groups.

Some say that the costs felt in the field are even higher than this. According to pet funeral service providers, the basic cost of a cremation-based funeral ranges from 200,000 to 500,000 won. If you add premium urns, transport services, and memorial stone sets, the total can rise to between 1 million and 2 million won. The most common funeral method was "cremation followed by tree burial," at 20.0%, followed by "entrusting the funeral to an animal hospital" at 15.1%. The shares for "keeping the urn at home after cremation" and "keeping a memorial stone (jewelry made from animal remains)" were both 12.4%. This is seen as the result of a growing culture in which people regard companion animals as family members, observe proper rites until the end, and seek to remember them even afterward.

Companion caretakers mainly cover these lifetime expenses out of their living costs. The largest share, 61.4%, said they pay for them from regular living expenses. Households that operate dedicated funds specifically for companion animals accounted for 26.6%. Last year, the average amount held in such dedicated funds for companion animals was 2,398,000 won. By age group, people in their 40s held the largest amount, with an average of 2,838,000 won. By household type, single-person households held an average of 2,773,000 won, followed by couples without children at 2,563,000 won, and households with parents and children at 2,264,000 won.

The average monthly savings set aside for companion animals was 192,000 won. Among households with companion animals, 36.2% held financial products for their pets. By product type, insurance had the highest share, at 12.8%.