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Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, greets citizens during a campaign rally at Rodeo Street in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, on May 20. / Source: Yonhap News

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on May 21 unveiled a comprehensive set of pet-related policies aimed at making South Korea a "leading nation in animal welfare." His pledges include enacting a Basic Animal Welfare Act, expanding pet insurance, and introducing a system to ban animal ownership for abusers.

In a Facebook post, Lee stated, “With 15 million people living with companion animals, more than one in four Koreans are now pet owners. Companion animals are seen not just as pets but as family members and life partners, with public empathy for their well-being continuing to grow.”

He acknowledged ongoing challenges in animal welfare. “Every year, nearly 110,000 animals are lost or abandoned, and conflicts persist between pet owners and non-owners due to issues like dog bite incidents,” he said. “True happiness comes when both pet families and non-pet owners can live harmoniously. I will work to build a culture of coexistence between humans and animals.”

Lee proposed shifting the policy paradigm from basic protection to welfare-centered governance. “We will enact a Basic Animal Welfare Act and establish an Animal Welfare Promotion Agency to consolidate currently fragmented animal-related functions,” he pledged.

Noting that veterinary costs account for roughly 40% of the average monthly cost of raising a pet, Lee vowed to reduce the financial burden by introducing standardized medical fees and treatment protocols. He also said he would improve registration rates and infrastructure to promote pet insurance.

To curb abuse and abandonment, Lee promised to introduce a system banning animal ownership for perpetrators of cruelty and to gradually implement mandatory education on basic pet care to increase owner responsibility.

He also called for stronger regulation of illegal breeding facilities and unlicensed shelters disguised as rescue centers. We will boost accountability in the operation of such facilities,” he said, adding that he would push for the enactment of a law promoting alternatives to animal testing to reduce the suffering of lab animals.