The Nation's Largest Pet Theme Park Opens in Busan

Busan City Announces Plan to Develop 595,000㎡ Area

Focused Growth of Related Industries, Income Increase Benefits for Local Residents

Busan City Hall. [Image source=Getty Images]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The largest pet theme park in South Korea will be established in Busan.

Busan City announced on the 7th that it will officially launch the "Pet Theme Park Development Project" by utilizing national and public land in the Guchil-ri area, Cheolma-myeon, Gijang-gun.

This project is one of the campaign pledges made by Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun during the 8th local government term.

The pet theme park to be created this time will cover a total area of 595,000㎡ (524,000㎡ of national and public land, 71,000㎡ of private land), making it the largest in the country, even larger than Busan Citizen Park. Most of the land will be national and public land, and the project cost is expected to be around 35 billion KRW.

Main facilities will include an outdoor training ground for pets, animal playground, animal camping site, animal walking trails, and an animal culture center, providing various convenience, educational training, and cultural facilities related to pets.

As of October 2021, there are 184,000 pet-owning households in Busan. Since there are only six pet theme parks nationwide, the supply has been insufficient, and citizens have long requested the establishment of a pet theme park.

Although there were repeated difficulties in finding a suitable location, the project site was recently selected through active participation of local residents in the area.

To promote coexistence with local residents who have been marginalized due to the inclusion of the area in the development restriction zone and water source protection zone, facilities proposed by residents such as local product markets and village squares will also be created.

In addition to creating convenience and cultural facilities, Busan City plans to focus on fostering the pet service industry.

The city will collaborate with universities such as Dongmyeong University and Silla University to build animal hospitals, and separately promote the development of high value-added pet food and high-functionality feed, as well as the advanced training of personnel for pet nutrition management, to intensively nurture the pet industry.

Attracting pet-related industries within the development restriction zone is also expected to greatly contribute to increasing the income of local residents.

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, "There are many hurdles ahead, such as changing the management plan for the development restriction zone to proceed with the project, but through the creation of the largest pet theme park in the country, we will satisfy the desires of citizens who love pets and ensure additional income for local residents."

Busan City plans to form a TF team from related departments to expedite the establishment of the pet theme park and will sequentially carry out related administrative procedures from 2023, including urban management plan (park) decisions, GB management plan changes, and park development plan establishment.

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