Seoul Mayoral Candidates Compete with Pet Pledges to Win Votes

Candidates for the Seoul mayoral election, Jeong Dong-oh of the Democratic Party and Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party, have launched competing campaigns by announcing distinct pet-related pledges aimed at capturing the voter sentiment in Seoul, dubbed the 'No. 1 city for pets.'

Jeong Dong-oh pledged to expand public pet boarding facilities and indoor/outdoor play areas across all autonomous districts in Seoul, and to reorganize the municipal animal welfare support centers into 'Seoul Animal Welfare Hub Centers' to build integrated care and medical systems across five regions. He also promised to gradually introduce standardized veterinary treatment fees to alleviate pet medical costs and provide subsidies of up to 250,000 won to households adopting abandoned animals.

Oh Se-hoon announced specific pledges including the creation of a 'Seoul Pet Theme Park' on the site of the Imjingang Resort in Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, expanding animal welfare support centers to six locations by 2030, increasing the total number of dog parks to 20, and introducing a medical expense income deduction of up to 1 million won annually.

The candidates' pledges cover a wide range of pet-related policies, including the protection of abandoned animals, expansion of public infrastructure, and relief from medical expenses. These initiatives are expected to spark discussions on the future direction of Seoul's pet welfare and policy implementation, and influence the development of related industries.