When millions of Koreans take to the highways for Chuseok, the nation's autumn harvest festival, they typically face three major anxieties: gridlocked traffic, probing questions from relatives, and deciding what to do with the dog. Families return to their ancestral hometowns to perform traditional rites and share elaborate feasts, often leaving pets behind with few good options.

For residents of Gangnam District, the popular upscale area south of the Han River in Seoul, the local government may not be able to help with awkward questions from relatives, but it is stepping in to solve the canine conundrum. District officials said Friday that they will operate a free dog care shelter program during the upcoming holiday, offering up to five days of complimentary lodging for 50 eligible dogs between Sept. 23 and Oct. 5.

Gangnam is home to roughly 47,000 registered pets — the highest concentration of any district in Seoul. As Korea's birthrate continues to fall, pet ownership has surged nationwide, effectively transforming furry companions into surrogate children for many households. The trend has fueled rapid growth in the country's pet economy, spanning everything from specialty veterinary care and pet insurance to grooming salons and cafes catering to companion animals, and the sector has expanded even as other consumer industries have slowed. Yet during major holidays, when city dwellers migrate to ancestral hometowns or travel abroad, professional boarding services often raise their prices or sell out months in advance, leaving many pet owners stranded or facing agonizing choices. The strain is especially acute at Chuseok, one of the country's two biggest traditional holidays alongside Lunar New Year, when virtually the entire country travels over the same few days.

To address this holiday care gap, Gangnam District has partnered with six professional pet-boarding facilities in neighborhoods including Cheongdam, Samseong and Yeoksam. The program is open to small dogs aged 5 months or older and weighing under 10 kilograms, with a limit of two pets per household.

Rather than a first-come, first-served free-for-all, the district is prioritizing families who have adopted rescue dogs, followed by low-income households, single-parent families and residents with disabilities. Applications open online on Sept. 9, with the final roster of participants announced Sept. 18.

The pet hotel initiative coincides with broader municipal efforts to promote responsible pet ownership. Gangnam recently introduced a streamlined QR code system for animal registration. By digitizing the paperwork, the district cut processing times for municipal pet subsidies from 51 days down to just four.

The initiative illustrates how local administrations in Korea are adapting to shifting demographics, with pets playing an increasingly central role in modern urban policy. Similar pet-friendly measures have been appearing elsewhere in the capital in recent years, including pet playgrounds and pet-allowed zones in public parks and facilities, as district governments compete to serve a growing population of companion-animal households. Whether Gangnam's free holiday shelter becomes a recurring fixture — and whether other districts follow suit — will be watched by pet owners ahead of the next major holiday travel season.

"We designed this practical service so our residents can enjoy a peaceful holiday with their human families without worrying about their dogs," said Gangnam District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki. "We will continue to introduce thoughtful policies that foster a happier coexistence between people and pets."

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.