As the number of dog owners in South Korea continues to rise, pet-friendly cities and spaces have emerged as a significant social concern. Despite this trend, domestic research on the relationships between pets, urban environments, and humans remains ...
As the number of dog owners in South Korea continues to rise, pet-friendly cities and spaces have emerged as a significant social concern. Despite this trend, domestic research on the relationships between pets, urban environments, and humans remains limited. This study examines the unique dog culture of Seoul's Haebangchon through an autoethnographic case study, analyzing its environmental and social dynamics. The findings indicate that Haebangchon is a community where diverse residents and their dogs coexist harmoniously. Five key factors for creating petfriendly cities were identified: ① diversity and openness, ② physical infrastructure, ③ social networks, ④ respect for pet culture, and ⑤ flexible systems. These elements establish Haebangchon as a model for pet-friendly spaces and underscore essential conditions for building urban environments that support safe and comfortable coexistence between pets and humans. Such cities not only enhance urban livability but also promote sustainable human-animal relationships through inclusive environments.