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Taking Another Step Toward a Pet-Friendly Cultural City… Korea’s Largest Pet Culture Park Project Passes Central Investment Review

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that the Pet Culture Park development project, the largest of its kind in the country, has passed the central investment review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in a single round, gaining momentum for its implementation.

The Pet Culture Park project, to be developed in Cheolma-myeon, Gijang-gun, aims to respond to the growing pet-owning population and increasing social interest in companion animals, while promoting a healthy pet culture in which both pet owners and non-pet owners can coexist.

The project will invest KRW 43.3 billion in municipal funds to develop a 241,000-square-meter site in Guchil-ri, Cheolma-myeon, Gijang-gun, making it the largest of its kind in Korea. Planned facilities include a Companion Culture Center, Companion Trail, global themed gardens, Companion Playground, pet training center, companion plant garden, and a local market street, offering a wide range of pet culture-related amenities.

In particular, the park is expected to be established as a complex cultural space encompassing education, experience, leisure, and healing functions, and to serve as a new leisure and cultural infrastructure within the region.

Following the approval of the central investment review, the city plans to systematically proceed with administrative procedures such as environmental impact assessment and implementation plan approval, and to commence construction once compensation processes are completed.

This approval comprehensively recognizes the project’s necessity, feasibility, and fiscal soundness. The fact that it passed the review in a single round is seen as a result of thorough preparation from the early stages and the city’s strong commitment to realizing the Pet Culture Park.

Once completed, the park is expected to contribute to income generation for local residents who have been disadvantaged by overlapping regulations, through initiatives such as local product markets and program linkages.

In addition, the city plans to create new pet culture experiences by operating various programs that foster empathy and regional cooperation, including outdoor weddings with companion animals.

The city will also faithfully reflect the review recommendations presented during the project process to enhance its overall completeness and establish efficient operational plans.

In particular, to ensure public value and sustainable operation, the city plans to strengthen professionalism and accountability based on a direct management system.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The approval in this central investment review confirms the necessity and public value of the Pet Culture Park project,” adding, “The park will go beyond a simple recreational space to become a future-oriented public infrastructure combining education, experience, and healing, and this project will serve as a turning point for Busan to leap forward as a leading city in pet culture where people and animals coexist happily.”

He added, “We will develop this space as one where local residents and pet owners can coexist and prosper together, thereby creating new urban competitiveness.”