'Companion Dog Playground' 'Companion Pet Camping Site'... We Are Petse-gwon

Mapo-gu 'Pet Camping Site' Opens in June
Gwanak, Seocho, Dongjak-gu Also Have Pet Playgrounds

Aerial View of Mapo-gu Pet Camping Site

In the era of 15 million pet owners, dogs and cats have already become synonymous with pets.

Recently, pet owners are jokingly referred to as "gae-jipsa" (dog masters) and "nyang-jipsa" (cat masters), reflecting how pets have become not just animals but family members.

While many Seoul districts such as Gwanak-gu, Seocho-gu, and Dongjak-gu operate dog playgrounds, Mapo-gu, ranked number one in pet-friendly areas, is drawing attention by creating a "Pet Camping Ground" on a 2,863㎡ site within Nanji Hangang Park in Sangam-dong, aiming to open in June this year.

The district was able to build exercise and rest facilities for registered animals on the riverbed land owned by Mapo-gu within Nanji Hangang Park, thanks to recent amendments to the River Act.

The pet camping ground created by Mapo-gu goes beyond the existing dog playgrounds where leashes or harnesses are simply removed for play. It focuses on both pet owners and their pets, allowing them to enjoy various leisure and cultural activities as well as pet-specialized services all in one space.

The camping ground will have separate areas for small and large dogs to play safely, drinking fountains, play facilities, and camping decks where owners can enjoy camping while overlooking the Han River with their dogs.

Convenience facilities stocked with pet supplies, snacks, and food will also be established. Mapo-gu plans to operate a behavior counseling room here and provide dog behavior correction and pet etiquette education.

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, going for a walk with his dog

Additionally, for pet owners who want to enjoy camping but do not have personal camping gear, a rental service for tents and mats will be provided, enabling anyone to easily enjoy eco-friendly leisure activities.

Moreover, Mapo-gu plans to operate a water play area during the summer to help dogs beat the heat, allowing both pet owners and pets to have a cool summer.

Park Kang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, "As the number of pet owners increases, administrative services related to pets must also accompany this trend, so we are implementing various policies." He added, "Mapo-gu will do its best to realize the social value of respecting life and ensure that pet owners and their pets live happy lives."

Alongside this, Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) established the largest urban "Dongjak Dog Park" in Seoul last September. Dongjak Dog Park (located at 24-10 Noryangjin-dong) covers about 5,900㎡, making it the largest dog playground in Seoul, and is centrally located for easy access. It features safety fences separating spaces for medium/small dogs and large dogs, agility equipment for dog play and training, benches, restrooms, and a management building.

Meanwhile, to facilitate parking for residents using Dongjak Dog Park (24-10 Noryangjin-dong), the district created a "dedicated parking area" nearby at the end of last year. The district utilized the Noryangjin Modern Sewer Box bus parking lot to allow free parking for Dongjak Dog Park users.

The existing two bus parking spaces were converted into four general vehicle parking spaces, designed larger than standard parking sizes to ensure user safety.

Dongjak Companion Dog Park

The district plans to add more parking near Noryangjin Station in the first half of this year. Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, "Dongjak Dog Park is the largest in Seoul with excellent accessibility and safe usage. We will promote various projects to make it a landmark and comfortable resting place for dogs and their owners."

Seocho-gu (Mayor Cho Eun-hee) established a "Dog Playground" in Banpo Neighborhood Park in Banpo-dong in 2017, where residents can walk their pets and enjoy outdoor activities.

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