The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will operate the "2026 Second Voluntary Pet Registration Period" until October 31.

Under the current Animal Protection Act, dogs aged two months or older raised for companion purposes must be registered with the local municipal government (si, gun, gu).

Failure to register a pet can result in a fine of up to 1 million KRW.

Fines of up to 500,000 KRW may also be imposed for failing to report changes in information, such as a change of owner, address, or phone number, or the loss or death of a registered animal.

However, fines will be waived for those who complete animal registration or report changes during this voluntary reporting period.

Pet registration can be applied for at local city, county, or district offices, or through designated animal registration agencies such as veterinary clinics.

Owners can choose between an internal registration method, which involves inserting a microchip (a wireless identification device) under the skin, or an external method, which attaches a tag to the collar.

The Ministry recommends internal registration because external tags carry a risk of being lost or damaged.

Following the conclusion of the voluntary reporting period in November, local governments will conduct intensive crackdowns on animal registration compliance, focusing on frequently visited areas such as parks and apartment complexes.

Authorities will also inspect whether owners are complying with other Animal Protection Act requirements, such as using leaches and attaching identification tags.

Lee Yeon-sook, head of the Animal Welfare Policy Division at the Ministry, said, "Pet registration is the fastest way to return a lost companion animal to its family and the first step in preventing abandonment and loss."

(Photo provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Yonhap News)