Dining With Pets in the Same Space Now Allowed

Pet-Friendly Restaurants Allowed from March
"Establishing a Culture of Dining Out Together"

Screenshot from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's promotional video for pet-friendly restaurants. Provided by Jeonnam-do.

Now, people in Jeonnam will also be able to dine together with their companion animals in the same space.

Jeollanam-do Province announced on the 23rd that it will fully implement the “Pet-Friendly Restaurant System” starting March 1. The key point of this system is that it goes beyond simply allowing pets to enter; it institutionalizes an environment where guardians and their companion animals can enjoy dining out together in the same space.

Until now, restaurants have, in principle, restricted the entry of companion animals. However, with the revision of the Food Sanitation Act, it will become possible to dine together with companion animals such as dogs and cats, provided that certain hygiene and safety standards are met. As a result, pet owners are expected to be able to eat with their animals at ordinary restaurants without having to move from one cafe or outdoor space to another.

Of course, because “dining together” is allowed, hygiene standards have also been strengthened. Only establishments that meet clear facility requirements and standards such as “separation from cooking areas,” “control of companion animal movement,” and “maintaining distance between tables” can operate as “pet-friendly establishments.” These businesses must post a notice at the entrance so that anyone can check this information in advance.

This initiative is intended to expand everyday dining culture in line with the social perception that companion animals are “family.” In particular, dining out together with companion animals is expected to create new consumer demand in local commercial districts, in connection with revitalizing travel and tourism.

To help the system take root, Jeollanam-do Province plans to make the list of pet-friendly restaurants public on its website, while simultaneously providing prior reviews and on-site guidance for business owners.

An official from Jeollanam-do Province stated, “We will support efforts so that dining with companion animals becomes part of everyday life rather than something special,” adding, “We will work to establish a dining-out culture in which pet owners and non-pet owners coexist in harmony.”