Seongdong-gu Supports Establishment of Cooperative for Training Professional Dog Care Workers

District Promotes 'Companion Dog Expert Training Project' to Create Youth Jobs: Graduates Form Cooperative and Launch Mobile App for Pet Care Service, Providing Opportunities for 'Corona Generation' Youth Weakened by COVID-19

‘On-site Companion Dog Expert Training Course’ to cultivate field-oriented professionals ready to be deployed immediately in the companion dog service industry

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jeong Won-oh) is taking the lead in creating youth jobs targeting niche industries by nurturing field-oriented professionals who can be immediately deployed in the pet dog service industry, supporting the establishment of cooperatives.

In May, the district launched the “Field-Oriented Pet Dog Expert Training Project” as a youth job creation initiative, recognizing the reality that while the pet-related service industry is continuously expanding, there is a shortage of specialized personnel.

In cooperation with the premium pet complex care center “Bauraum” in the region, a 14-week training program was conducted under the guidance of experts with over 15 years of experience, covering practical training in pet dog training and care services, as well as cooperative establishment, entrepreneurship, and marketing strategies to produce professionals ready for immediate deployment in the field. Thirty trainees completed the course, linking them to cooperative establishment, employment, and start-ups in related businesses.

Notably, five of the graduates are pushing forward with the establishment of a cooperative called “Tail Friends.”

“Tail Friends” embodies the meaning of becoming a friend to pet dogs by reading their tails, which are a means of expressing emotional signals. It provides care services such as pet dog care and walking when the pet owner is away or traveling.

The cooperative is expected to be approved by the end of December, and a dedicated application will be launched in January next year, enabling easy service reservation and management via smartphones, as well as communication between owners and trainers. The district supports consulting for cooperative establishment and operation, as well as application development.

Su-hyun Lee (28), CEO of Tail Friends, said, “Through the training, I was able to learn not only about pet dog characteristics, history, and walking manners but also various specialized knowledge including pet dog products and marketing education. I joined the cooperative because I wanted to share what I learned and experienced with more owners and their pets. In the future, as the business stabilizes, we plan to diversify services such as animal grooming and expand the service area to nearby regions of Seongdong-gu.”

Jeong Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “This project goes beyond the limitations of conventional public institution simple workforce training projects and seeks active support and alternatives linked to realistic employment and entrepreneurship. We will actively strive to provide various opportunities and support to the so-called ‘Corona Generation’ youth, who are shrinking due to the economic downturn and employment difficulties caused by COVID-19, so that they can hold hope for the future through employment.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.