Xuebi, an eight-year-old bichon frise, and his owner pose at an orchard in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 5, during a pet-friendly apple-picking experience. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin

POCHEON, Gyeonggi Province — Arong, a seven-year-old mixed breed dog that lives with her owner Lee Bo-young in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, had a "paw-fect" autumn picnic at an apple orchard with a group of canine friends, last Thursday.

Dressed in a flowery hat and a mombbae, a traditional Korean overall worn by field workers, Arong sniffed the air and strolled around an apple orchard for the first time in her life.

"A puppy!" exclaimed one of the kindergarteners from a field trip group passing by, waving at her. "The dog is here picking apples with us," their teacher explained, to which Arong joyfully barked in response.

Arong, a seven-year-old mixed breed, and her owner pose at an orchard in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 5, during a pet-friendly apple-picking experience. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin

It was also a special day for Xuebi, an eight-year-old bichon frise from Seoul. Xuebi, along with Arong and three other canine friends — Danbi, Wangbang, and Toto — got to taste freshly picked apples while their owners enjoyed apple pie and apple juice following the apple picking.

"We are proud to present the region's specialty. Have a bite, it's sweet and juicy. Everyone, including our furry friends, is welcome here at the farm to try it," said Sin Hyun-jung, the farm owner who also raises two dogs.

Located in the mountainous northern Gyeonggi Province, an hour drive from Seoul, Pocheon is open to all travelers — both humans and animals.

Designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) as this year's pet-friendly tourism city, along with Suncheon in South Jeolla Province, Pocheon offers several pet-friendly attractions. One such spot is Sin's Farm, where the five canine friends had the opportunity to explore every inch of the property.

They first had brunch made of fresh local ingredients at a restaurant equipped with private rooms. Then they rode a monorail car to go up the mountain and enjoy the picturesque view at Pocheon Art Valley, an art and culture complex visited by over 400,000 people a year.

Danbi, a five-year-old husky, and his owner pose at an Pocheon Art Valley in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 5. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin

After the apple-picking experience at the orchard, they attended a one-day agility class at a park and enjoyed a vegetarian picnic at a playground near the Hantan River.

From gardeners to coffee shop staff, the five canine travelers received warm greetings from every Pocheon citizen they met throughout the day, which Arong's owner Lee said is a rare and special experience for pet owners in Korea.

"Arong and I travel to other cities for fresh air about once a month, and it is not easy to find a place that offers both pet-friendly travel infrastructure and ambiance," Lee said.

For example, last month, Lee and Arong visited a dog-friendly beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. Despite paying an entrance fee of about 10,000 won ($7.40) per person, they were asked to leave by the beach manager due to complaints from other visitors who considered dogs "dirty."

Lee and several pet owners who spoke with The Korea Times noted that this situation contrasts sharply with the booming pet industry and the growing pet-owning population in Korea, where about one in four Koreans now lives with companion animals.

According to a 2023 report by KB Management Institute, "difficulties in traveling" was the top issue faced by approximately 14.8 million pet owners in Korea, affecting 37.4 percent of them.

Almost half, or 47.8 percent of the survey's 2,000 respondents said they gave up a chance to travel because of their pet. Meanwhile, the percentage of people who would recommend having a pet fell by 4.6 percentage points to 41.9 percent, with "difficulties in going on a trip" being the most commonly cited reason.

Wangbang, a six-year-old golden retriever, tries agility at a pet playground in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 5. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin

In response, last year the Culture Ministry and KTO began selecting two "pet-friendly tourism cities" each year to promote pet tourism, and they allocated a billion-won budget over a 10-year period.

"Here in Pocheon, we have over 10 pet-friendly attractions. Its proximity to Seoul and the surrounding area, where there is a high concentration of pet owners, makes the city an ideal travel destination for those with pets," said Choi Eun-ok, an official from the tourism department at Pocheon Metropolitan Government.

Pocheon boasts 97 pet-friendly accommodations and 140 pet-friendly restaurants, which has helped establish the city as a popular destination for pet owners seeking a weekend getaway, Choi explained.

Choi believes it is equally important to educate not only pet owners but also the general public on how to live in harmony with pets.

According to the KB report, over half of the respondents who do not own pets expressed concerns about uncollected trash and feces, as well as the potential for aggression when encountering dogs while traveling.

"Pocheon City aims to develop a culture where people who don't live with pets also support pet tourism and live in harmony with our furry friends," Choi said.