Reducing the Burden of Raising Pets... 'Veterinary Medical System Improvement Task Force' Launched

Public-Private Consultative Body for Enhancing Trust in Veterinary Care and Improving Services
First Meeting Held on April 29

A public-private consultative body aimed at reducing the burden of veterinary medical expenses for pets is set to begin full-scale operations.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it launched the "Task Force for Improvement of Veterinary Medical System" in response to the growing demand for enhanced veterinary medical services, driven by the increasing number of households raising pets. The first meeting was held on April 29, 2026.

This task force was established to comprehensively discuss institutional improvement measures to enhance trust in veterinary medical services and alleviate the burden of veterinary expenses. It will be operated as a public-private consultative body, with participation from the government, academia, the veterinary community, consumer organizations, and local governments.

Through this task force, the Ministry plans to gather a wide range of opinions and establish a comprehensive plan for fostering and advancing veterinary medical services. The plan will include the introduction of a public interest-oriented standard fee system, the establishment of public animal hospitals, and the promotion of pet insurance, among other initiatives.

Kim Jungwook, Policy Chief for Agricultural Industry Innovation at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "As public awareness of animal welfare continues to rise, there is growing national interest in a trustworthy veterinary medical environment. Based on thorough communication, we will pursue effective institutional improvements to create a society where people and animals can live happily together."

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