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Everyone Walks Together on the Dog-Friendly Trail… Busan Metropolitan City Creates Five “Pet-Friendly Empathy Walking Trails”

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has completed the creation of five “Pet-Friendly Empathy Walking Trails” (total length: 8 km), where companion animals and citizens can enjoy safe and comfortable walks together.

This project was carried out as part of efforts to expand everyday infrastructure for the development of a pet-friendly city. It was designed to provide walking spaces within local living areas where pet owners and non-pet owners can coexist through mutual consideration and respect.

In particular, the project focused on improving inconveniences associated with existing walking trails and creating an environment that satisfies both pet owners and non-pet owners.

The City developed five of Busan’s representative healing destinations as “Pet-Friendly Empathy Walking Trails” and assigned names reflecting the characteristics of each area to make them more approachable and familiar to both citizens and companion animals.

The designated routes are:

• ●Haeundaeng-gil (Intercity Bus Terminal–LCT, 1.4 km)

• ●Haebyeondaeng-gil (within Dadaepo Beach Park, 1.1 km)

• ●Gangbyeondaeng-gil (Dadaepo Beach–Jangnim Port, 3.5 km)

• ●Gongwondaeng-gil (South Gate 4–North Gate 3, 1.0 km)

• ●Geumgangdaeng-gil (a section within Geumgang Park, 1.0 km)

The trails are equipped with outdoor benches (designer seating), dog waiting stations (leash holders), and information signs to strengthen rest, waiting, and guidance functions. These facilities are expected to enhance convenience and satisfaction for those walking with companion animals.

Meanwhile, in response to the growing number of households raising companion animals, the City is also operating an in-person “Companion Animal Care Citizen Education Program” aimed at reducing conflicts between pet owners and non-pet owners and promoting a mature pet-friendly culture.

In May, the City conducted four sessions of training for companion animal owners, attended by 29 teams and 53 participants. The program included topics such as understanding canine temperament, dog socialization training (animal interaction), pet health, grooming and hygiene management, basic responsibilities of pet ownership, and interaction activities. Additional sessions are scheduled for October.

The City will also operate two training sessions for prospective dog adopters who do not currently own pets from July 24 to August 1 at Silla University’s training center and the Haeundae Stray Animal Adoption Center. The program will cover key considerations for dog adoption, basic knowledge about companion animals, and assistance-dog experience activities.

Applications for these programs are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through the “Animal Companionship with a Reason” education application website. Through these efforts, the City plans to foster an urban environment where pet owners and non-pet owners can empathize with one another and coexist harmoniously.

Ahn Cheol-su, Director General of the Green City Bureau, stated, “The Pet-Friendly Empathy Walking Trails are spaces that help create a daily urban culture in which citizens and companion animals walk together while showing consideration for one another.”

He added, “We will continue to promote pet-friendly policies that bring meaningful and practical changes close to citizens’ everyday lives.”