Most owned cat breeds in South Korea in 2023

As of February 2023, the most popular cat breed in South Korea was the Korean short hair, with around 62.1 percent of respondents in a survey on cat ownership reporting their cat belongs to that breed. The cat population in South Korea reached over 2.5 million in 2022. A survey about pet ownership found out that about a 28 percent of surveyed households owned a pet, marking a slight increase compared to the previous year. 

Trend of pet ownership

For many South Koreans, their pets have become somewhat of a family member in their own right. This advances the possibilities of the market in the country. A 2022 survey found, that many respondents adopted a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents in that survey answered that their family member or child wanting a pet was the major reason, closely followed by loneliness as the second most answered reason.

Challenges of raising a pet 

Regarding the challenges of raising a pet, the costs are the most obvious hurdle. The spending on pet related items in South Korea kept increasing throughout the last year. But not just usual pet related goods, such as food, accessories, and furniture are a burden to pet owners. The animal pharmaceutical market also increased, with pet health being another major cost factor.