"Funeral Services and Emotional Care: Funeral Industry Expands Pet Funeral Frontline"

Funeral Costs Rise and Memorial Practices Evolve... Growing Demand for Pet Funeral Services
Expansion of the Industry: From Launching Dedicated Products and Partnerships to Emotional Care

As the number of people who consider their pets as family?so-called "Pet Family" or "Petfam"?continues to rise, the funeral service industry is expanding into the "pet funeral" market. In the past, pet owners had to make their own arrangements, but recently, it has become more common to use professional funeral homes for cremation and memorial services. In addition, services that address pet loss syndrome, which affects owners after a pet's passing, are emerging, intensifying competition among companies seeking to attract pet funeral customers.

According to the "2025 Korea Pet Report" recently published by the KB Financial Group Management Research Institute on August 7, 2025, as of the end of last year, there were 5.91 million pet-owning households in Korea, accounting for 26.7% of all households. This figure represents an increase of 1.1% (60,000 households) from the previous year. Spending by pet-owning households has also been on the rise throughout a pet's entire life cycle, from adoption to death. In particular, the average funeral cost this year reached 463,000 won, an increase of 83,000 won compared to two years ago.

Preferred funeral methods are also changing. The proportion of owners opting for direct burial decreased from 18.1% in 2023 to 12.5% this year, while the number of respondents choosing specialized services?such as memorial stones made from pet ashes (15% to 21.8%) or funeral arrangements through animal hospitals (12.1% to 14.9%)?has increased.

In response to growing demand, funeral service companies are launching dedicated services targeting Petfam customers. In April, Kyowon Life officially launched a specialized product called "Pet Life Kyowon." The product is priced at 1.1 million won, with subscribers making 100 monthly payments of 11,000 won each, followed by an 80-month grace period. The service includes a dedicated funeral director, premium funeral supplies, individual cremation, and a private memorial space. Subscribers also receive a 250,000 won LG appliance purchase subsidy as an added benefit. A Kyowon Life representative stated, "As interest in pets grows, inquiries and interest in pet funeral services are also increasing."

Coway Life Solution (Corasol), which was officially launched in May, also entered the pet funeral market through partnerships. On July 23, the company signed a business agreement with Petdoc, the operator of the specialized pet funeral home "Pawpaws," and now offers funeral products at up to a 15% discount at six directly operated funeral homes nationwide. Existing customers can also take advantage of membership benefits by switching to these products. A Corasol representative said, "We established this partnership as part of our customized care services for pet owners," adding, "We plan to continue expanding services that meet our customers' needs in all aspects of their lives."

Services that address not only pet funerals but also the emotional healing of owners have also been introduced. The number of owners reporting deep grief and depression after losing a pet is increasing. According to the KB Management Research Institute, 16.3% of pet-owning households that experienced the loss of a pet suffered from "pet loss syndrome," with symptoms of depression lasting more than a year.

Boram Funeral Service signed a business agreement with the pet funeral specialist "Farewell" on July 23 and is working to build a nationwide network. The company also operates the biogene jewelry brand "Petsviea," which creates keepsakes using biological elements such as pet hair or claws. The aim is to help owners cherish memories with their pets, prevent pet loss syndrome, and establish a culture of mourning. A Boram Funeral Service representative commented, "There is a growing recognition that saying goodbye to a pet should also be dignified," adding, "We will continue to strengthen our responsible services to support owners' emotional recovery."

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