Monthly Membership Priced at 1,980 Yuan
Includes Running, Swimming, and Massage Sessions
A fitness center exclusively for dogs, charging a monthly fee of over 400,000 won, has opened in Shanghai, China, attracting significant attention online.
According to Chinese media outlets such as Elephant News on the 27th, a pet gym in Shanghai offers a monthly membership for dogs at 1,980 yuan (420,000 won).
The monthly membership includes a daily running program, swimming sessions four times a week, and massages four times a week. All programs are conducted one-on-one with a professional coach, and each session lasts 30 minutes.
Additionally, the gym uses a reservation system to stagger workout times for dogs, minimizing contact with other pets. The facility explains that this approach aims to provide a more comfortable and safe environment for exercise.
As news of this unique operation and relatively high fees spread, a variety of opinions emerged online in China. Some commenters said, “Now even dogs are going to the gym,” while others criticized the concept with remarks such as, “Why reduce social contact?”, “Even a dog would shake its head,” and “Spend the money on your parents, not your dog.”
The ‘pet humanization’ trend, which involves treating pets as family members, is rapidly growing not only in China but also in Korea, fueling the rapid expansion of related industries. Ahead of the recent Lunar New Year, Emart introduced Hanbok and holiday-themed treats for pets through its specialist brand ‘Molly’s’. The retailer launched products such as tteokguk and lucky pouch cakes reinterpreted for dogs, as well as chewy cookies called ‘Meongjjonku’, which are made with carob, a chocolate substitute, reflecting the latest dessert trends.
Demand for premium products is also on the rise. High-end pet apparel, such as Moncler padded vests (920,000 won) and Ralph Lauren sweatshirts (250,000 won), has quickly sold out in succession.
Market research firm Research Nester forecasts that the global pet care market will expand from approximately $275.6 billion (396 trillion won) in 2025 to about $568 billion (817.2 trillion won) by 2035.
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