Kyowon Group's Pet Business Shows 'Strong Growth'... Strengthening Synergy with Affiliates

Kinok, All 34 Rooms Designed for Pets
Preparing to Enter Pet Funeral Market with Kyowon Life
"Considering Expansion of Pet Business Using Kinok Brand"

Last year, Kyowon Group, which officially entered the pet market, is showing strong performance in its related business.

The guest room of 'Kinok,' a pet-friendly hotel operated by Kyowon Group. Kinok website

According to Kyowon Group on the 10th, the pet-friendly hotel ‘Kinok’ recorded a 46% increase in sales from September to December last year compared to the previous year. The number of pet dogs, the main customers, increased by 21% in December compared to August last year during the pre-opening period. The total number of pet dogs that have visited Kinok so far is estimated to be about 5,500.

Kinok is a space that opened in August last year after completely renovating the family-friendly hotel ‘Suite Hotel Gyeongju,’ previously owned by Kyowon Group, designing all spaces from the perspective of pet owners and their dogs. It has a total floor area of 7,000㎡ (2,120 pyeong), with 3 floors above ground and 2 basement levels. All 34 rooms are pet-specialized rooms, introducing night lights instead of bells for dogs sensitive to sight and hearing, and replacing drainage pipes with large-diameter ones considering the heavy shedding characteristic. The outdoor pet park is a place where pets can freely run and play, consisting of various facilities such as a water play area made with hot spring water and experiential spaces that help improve pets’ health and physical development. The bakery cafe and restaurant on the first floor offer dog-exclusive menus such as ‘Mungpuchino,’ ‘Mung Parfait,’ and ‘Mung Chicken.’

Kyowon Wells, a rental company, is strengthening synergy in the pet business. Last year, Kyowon Wells launched the ‘Wells Air Garden Air Purifier’ equipped with pet care functions. Pet care focuses on managing pet hair and excrement odors. Kyowon Group installed Air Garden air purifiers in all Kinok rooms, cafes, restaurants, and lobbies. Last month, they also jointly held the event ‘Introducing My Dog’ targeting pet households with Kyowon Wells.

Kyowon Group plans to promote the pet business through Kyowon Life, a funeral service company and one of its main affiliates. Kyowon Life is preparing to enter the pet funeral market, having signed a strategic business agreement with Petdoc, the operator of the pet funeral hall ‘Popose,’ in September last year. Kinok has also partnered with Kyowon Life and from this month offers discounts to Kyowon Life members using Kinok.

The pet market has great growth potential. The number of pet owners is estimated to be about 13 million. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs expects the domestic pet market, which was about 8.5 trillion won last year, to exceed 20 trillion won by 2032. A Kyowon Group official said, “Kinok is expanding related services to grow into a brand representing the pet business beyond just a hotel,” adding, “Although nothing has been finalized yet, we are considering expanding the pet business using the Kinok brand in the future to enhance Kinok’s external recognition and maximize customer satisfaction.”

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