Lowering the Threshold for Bringing Dogs into Natural Recreation Forests

It will become easier to enter national natural recreation forests with companion dogs.

The Korea Forest Service National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office announced on the 29th that it will relax the entry criteria for companion dogs (medium and small-sized dogs) allowed to enter national natural recreation forests.

Entrance view of the Sanum Recreation Forest dog playground. Provided by the National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office.

The Recreation Forest Management Office will first increase the number of companion dogs allowed from two to a maximum of three. Previously, regardless of the facility size, only up to two dogs were allowed to enter together, but from now on, the number will be applied differently depending on the facility size, ranging from 2 to 3 dogs.

The age restriction for companion dogs that had been applied so far will also be removed. The regulation that only allowed dogs aged 6 months to 10 years to enter will be abolished, allowing companion dogs to enter national natural recreation forests regardless of age.

In addition, the criteria for prohibited entry of dangerous dogs will be changed from 8 breeds to 5 breeds and their mixed breeds (Article 2, Clause 5 of the Animal Protection Act), easing the restrictions, according to the Recreation Forest Management Office.

Previously, the Recreation Forest Management Office established companion dog entry criteria in 2019 reflecting the increasing demand for forest recreation with pets.

Based on this, four locations currently allow companion dogs: National Saneum Natural Recreation Forest in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province; National Hwacheon Forest Camping Site in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province; National Geommaksan Natural Recreation Forest in Yeongyang, Gyeongsangbuk Province; and National Gimcheon Forest Camping Site in Gimcheon, Gyeongsangbuk Province.

The relaxed criteria will be applied starting from the 1st of next month.

Kim Myung-jong, head of the Recreation Forest Management Office, said, “We have relaxed the companion dog entry criteria so that citizens can rest with their companion dogs inside national natural recreation forests,” and added, “In the future, forest cultural events involving special-purpose large dogs and families adopting abandoned dogs will also be held.”

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