This article was displayed on the ChosunBiz RM Report site at 5:21 a.m. on Mar. 22, 2026.
The government has clarified the regulatory standards for operating restaurants that allow entry with companion animals. This is a follow-up step after confusion on the ground following the rollout earlier this month led to criticism that "no-pet zones" were actually increasing.
According to related industries on the 22nd, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety announced improvements that ease and specify the verification of vaccinations, facility standards, and table spacing rules. In addition to the existing certificate check method, QR code submission and handwritten entries are now allowed to reduce friction between owners and customers and improve on-site applicability.
The contentious "table spacing" standard was also adjusted to be realistic. If a companion animal is kept in a carrier or on a dedicated chair, or is held in arms, there is no longer a separate distance requirement, and even when using a leash, the standard was eased so that it is sufficient as long as there is no contact with other tables.
The facility burden on owners was also lowered. Previously, it was understood that carriers, leash anchors, dedicated chairs, and other items all had to be in place, but going forward, just one of these will suffice. If customers use their own carrier or stroller, the venue can operate without separate equipment. Various forms of partitions for separating cooking areas, such as mobile or foldable ones, were also permitted.
Under the amended Enforcement Rule of the Food Sanitation Act that took effect on the 1st, general restaurants, rest-area restaurants, and bakeries can allow entry with dogs and cats if certain standards are met. After running a regulatory sandbox, the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety reported positive effects for restaurants allowing companion animals, including improved hygiene safety levels and higher satisfaction among industry and consumers, and decided to end the pilot project and expand the venues where entry with companion animals is allowed.
At the time of implementation, complaints arose on the ground that the burden of facility investment and management was excessive, and concerns that inspections or complaints could lead to business suspension prompted some places to switch to no-pet zones. Currently, restaurants allowing entry with companion animals are on the rise. The number grew from 287 in the first week of implementation to 802 in three weeks. While the industry initially assessed the system as "virtually permitted but practically difficult," the clearer standards and reduced burdens are prompting stronger willingness to participate.
Still, small-business owners remain concerned about sanctions such as business suspension if violations are found, liability issues when accidents occur, and potential conflicts with customers. Single-operator venues also face difficulties verifying vaccination records. There is continued criticism that responsibility for managing companion animals could be excessively shifted onto owners.
On the 18th, Oh Yu-Kyoung, head of the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety, held a "policy roundtable on restaurants allowing entry with companion animals with small-business owners" at Cafe Aloha Turtle in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and said, "This system was created so that companion animal owners can comfortably visit restaurants and other places with their animals, but it seems the field still finds it difficult. We will communicate proactively, reflect feedback in policy, and work through the issues."
The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety is also rolling out support measures to improve understanding of the system. If you leave questions related to the system in the "companion animals QnA" section, you can receive case-based answers. Information on restaurants allowing entry with companion animals can be checked on a map basis on the Food Safety Korea website.
Some also say that for the system to take root, not only easing regulations but also strengthening owner responsibility and improving usage culture must go hand in hand. Lee Eun-hee, a professor in the Department of Consumer Science at Inha University, said, "Administrative support through consulting, education, and provision of materials is essential rather than onerous regulations," adding, "For a culture where customers who visit with companion animals and those who do not can coexist, government ministries as well as the private sector need to think it through together."