South Korea is increasingly pet-friendly, and with careful preparation, bringing your dog or cat along for your trip is entirely possible. From veterinary paperwork to dog-friendly cafes in Seoul, here is everything you need to know before you board that plane with your four-legged travel companion.
Entry Requirements and Paperwork
Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) enforces strict import rules for pets. Start this process at least three to four months before your trip — rushing it will get your pet turned back at Incheon International Airport.
- Microchip: Your pet must have an ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination. This is non-negotiable.
- Rabies vaccination: Must be administered after microchipping and must be current. Puppies and kittens must be at least 91 days old at the time of vaccination.
- Rabies titer test: Required if you are coming from a non-rabies-free country (this includes the United States, Canada, and most of Europe). Blood must be drawn at least 180 days before entry. The test must be done at an APQA-approved laboratory.
- Health certificate: Issued by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of departure. Must be endorsed by your country’s official government veterinary authority (USDA APHIS in the US).
- APQA import permit: Apply online at the APQA website (aris.go.kr) before arrival. Download and print the completed form.
On arrival at Incheon, proceed to the Animal Quarantine counter in the arrivals hall before going through customs. Quarantine inspection typically takes 30 to 60 minutes if your paperwork is complete. Pets that do not meet requirements face a mandatory quarantine period of up to 10 days at the airport facility at your expense — currently around 50,000 to 80,000 KRW per day.
Flying Into Korea With Your Pet
Most travelers fly into Incheon International Airport (ICN), which has a dedicated animal quarantine facility. A smaller number of international routes land at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, which also handles pet arrivals but with more limited quarantine staffing — confirm in advance if you are routing through Busan. Travelers coordinating extra mobility needs alongside a pet should also check our guide to wheelchair support at airports in Korea.
Airline policies vary significantly. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines both allow small pets in the cabin (under 7 kg including carrier) on international routes for a fee of approximately 200,000 KRW each way. Larger dogs must travel as checked baggage or cargo. Budget carriers like Air Busan and Jeju Air generally do not allow pets in the cabin on international flights — check directly with your carrier before booking.
Approved carriers must have ventilation on at least three sides and meet the airline’s specific size requirements. Hard-sided carriers are recommended for cargo travel. Bring an absorbent pad, a small water dish that attaches to the door, and a familiar toy or blanket to reduce anxiety during the flight.
Getting Around and Staying With Pets in Korea
Once you land, navigating Korea with a pet takes a bit of planning but is very manageable.
Transportation: Pets are allowed on the Seoul Metro (subway) if they are inside a fully enclosed carrier and the carrier does not touch other passengers. Dogs must be muzzled if outside a carrier, though this is rare in practice. Kakao Taxi and most regular taxis will carry pets in a carrier at the driver’s discretion — some refuse, so budget extra time. KTX trains allow small pets in carriers in designated seats; book by calling Korail (1544-7788) in advance as online booking for pets is limited.
Accommodation: Pet-friendly hotels are growing in number but still require advance filtering. In Seoul, the Glad Mapo hotel near Hongdae allows small pets for a cleaning fee of around 30,000 KRW per night. The Busan Haeundae area has several pet-friendly guesthouses near Dalmaji-gil. Booking platforms like Yanolja (야놀자) and Naver Travel have dedicated pet-friendly filters. Always confirm directly with the property — size and breed restrictions vary widely. Families juggling both a pet and young kids may also find our guide to stroller travel in Korea useful for planning accommodation and transit.
Dog-friendly spots: Seoul Forest (서울숲) in Seongdong-gu is one of the most popular parks for dog owners, with open lawns and a designated off-leash area. Bukhansan National Park allows leashed dogs on most trails. In Busan, Gwangalli Beach permits leashed dogs in the early morning and evening hours outside of peak summer season. Jeju Island is arguably Korea’s most pet-friendly destination — Hamdeok Beach and Hyeopjae Beach both welcome dogs, and the island has numerous pet-friendly pension-style accommodations from around 100,000 to 150,000 KRW per night.
Pet cafes and supplies: Korea has a thriving pet cafe culture. Bau House in Hongdae, Seoul, is one of the oldest dog cafes in the country and charges around 15,000 KRW entry including a drink. For supplies, Daiso stocks basic leashes and bowls at very low prices, and Petco-style chains like Pet Shop Boy and Grooming Story are found in most major shopping districts.
Veterinary Care in Korea
If your pet needs medical attention during your trip, Korea has excellent veterinary care at reasonable prices by Western standards. A standard consultation at a Seoul clinic runs 20,000 to 40,000 KRW. The 24-hour Seoul Animal Medical Center (SAMC) in Songpa-gu handles emergencies. In Busan, the Animal Medical Center Busan near Centum City is well-regarded for both routine and emergency care. Bring copies of your pet’s vaccination records and any chronic medication prescriptions in case you need a refill — some human pharmacies can dispense common pet medications, but a vet visit is usually required. If you or a travel companion also needs prescriptions filled while abroad, see our guide to managing medication and allergies in Korea.
Intercity Travel and Leaving Korea With Your Pet
If your itinerary takes you beyond Seoul and Busan, you will likely need an intercity bus, a ferry, or a domestic flight at some point — and each has different rules for pets that catch first-time travellers off guard.
Intercity buses: Express and intercity buses (the ones departing from terminals like Seoul Express Bus Terminal) generally allow small pets in an enclosed carrier stowed on your lap or at your feet, but this is at the discretion of the individual operator rather than a fixed nationwide rule. Some drivers are strict about size; larger dogs are usually not permitted in the passenger cabin at all. If you are travelling to Jeju or another island with a mid-size or large dog, a domestic flight with the pet checked as cargo, or a car ferry where the pet can stay in your vehicle, is usually more reliable than trying your luck with an intercity bus.
Ferries to Jeju and other islands: Car ferries from Mokpo, Wando, or Busan to Jeju and other islands typically allow pets, and if you are travelling with your own vehicle, your pet can often stay in the car for the crossing (roughly 4 to 12 hours depending on the route) rather than in a carrier the whole time — check the specific ferry operator’s pet policy when booking, since this varies by company. This is often the more comfortable option for anxious dogs compared to a domestic flight, where they must stay crated throughout.
Domestic flights: Korean Air, Asiana, and Jeju Air all carry pets on domestic routes such as Gimpo–Jeju, generally under the same in-cabin weight limits (around 7 kg including carrier) that apply internationally. Fees are typically lower than international pet fees, often in the 20,000 to 50,000 KRW range one-way as of 2026 — prices can change, so confirm directly with the airline when booking rather than relying on older published figures.
Local tip: A detail most guides miss — if your pet will need a follow-up vet visit before flying home, book it early. Clinics near Incheon Airport that issue export health certificates (required by many destination countries, including the US and EU, typically within 10 days of departure) get fully booked around Korean public holidays such as Chuseok and Lunar New Year, when domestic pet travel also spikes. Calling two to three weeks ahead for an export certificate appointment avoids a scramble in your final days in Korea.
Bus vs ferry vs domestic flight — which to choose: For a small dog or cat in a carrier and a short hop (for example Seoul to a nearby city), an intercity bus is the cheapest and simplest option if the operator allows it. For a larger dog, or if you want your pet to travel with minimal stress, a car ferry to Jeju beats a domestic flight because your pet can ride in your vehicle rather than being separated into cargo. Domestic flights make sense mainly when time is tight and your pet qualifies for in-cabin travel.