Gyeonggi Province to Hold Voluntary Animal Registration Until End of October... Intensive Enforcement in November

Fines Waived for Unregistered or Unreported Changes
Registration Requirement Expands to Include Animal Breeding Businesses

Gyeonggi Province announced on September 6 that it will operate the "2026 Second Voluntary Animal Registration Reporting Period" from September 1 to October 31. After the voluntary reporting period ends, starting in November, the province will conduct intensive crackdowns, focusing on locations frequented by pet dogs such as parks and apartment complexes.

Animal Registration Voluntary Reporting Notice. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

The animal registration system is designed to enhance pet owners’ sense of responsibility and prevent the occurrence of lost or abandoned animals. This year, as in the previous year, the voluntary reporting period is operated twice: in May–June and September–October.

Any dog over two months old kept for companionship in a residential space, semi-residential space, or any other location must be registered. Due to this year’s legal revision, dogs over twelve months old raised by animal breeders at business premises are also now subject to registration. Registering pet cats remains optional.

Owners who wish to register should visit a designated registration agency, such as an animal hospital, together with their pet. Information on registration agencies is available through the National Animal Protection Information System or by contacting the animal protection department at a city or county office.

If an owner's address or contact information changes, it can be reported online through the National Animal Protection Information System. In the event of a change in ownership, the owner can apply for the change in person at the city or county office or via the Government24 website.

If an animal is not registered, a fine of up to KRW 1 million may be imposed. If changes in ownership information are not reported within the designated period, a fine of up to KRW 500,000 may be imposed. However, if registration or information changes are reported by October 31 within the voluntary reporting period, the fine will be waived.

After the voluntary reporting period ends, the province plans to conduct intensive monitoring for unregistered pet dogs throughout November, focusing on parks, apartment complexes, and areas with frequent complaints.

Jung Bongsoo, Head of the Animal Welfare Division at Gyeonggi Province, said, “With the registration requirement now expanded to include animal breeders, we ask that registration be completed within the voluntary reporting period to help prevent lost or abandoned animals and to establish a culture of responsible pet ownership.”

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province, together with its 31 cities and counties, also operates a program that supports the cost of registering implantable radio frequency identification devices (RFID). The rice grain-sized implantable microchip is a veterinary medical device with no adverse reaction in the body, and it carries minimal risk of loss or damage.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.