“宠物通胀”困扰韩国民众

Core Insights - The number of pet owners in South Korea has reached 15.46 million, accounting for nearly 30% of the total population, leading to increased spending on pet care and rising prices in pet products and services [1] Group 1: Pet Ownership and Spending Trends - The average monthly expenditure for pet ownership in South Korea is projected to be 194,000 KRW (approximately 922 RMB) by 2025, reflecting a 26% increase from 2023 [1] - 57.6% of pet owners' spending is allocated to pet food, snacks, and nutritional supplements [1] - The percentage of households spending over 250,000 KRW (1,188 RMB) per month on pets has increased by 5 percentage points to 20.6% [1] - The proportion of households spending 50,000 KRW (approximately 238 RMB) or less has decreased from 23.6% in 2023 to 18.8% [1] Group 2: Price Increases in Pet Products and Services - Pet product prices are expected to rise, with pet food and care services projected to increase by 2.9% and 2.5%, respectively, surpassing the overall consumer price index (CPI) increase of 2.1% [1] - Cumulative price increases for pet products and services from 2020 to 2025 are 20.2% and 13%, respectively, compared to an overall inflation rate of 16.6% during the same period [1] - Major pet food companies, such as Purina, are raising prices by 10% to 27% due to increased production costs, while other brands are also adjusting prices due to rising raw material and transportation costs [2] Group 3: Veterinary Care Costs - The average annual expenditure on pet medical care has reached 1.46 million KRW (approximately 6,935 RMB), nearly double the 787,000 KRW (3,738 RMB) spent in 2023 [2] - A survey of 3,950 veterinary institutions revealed that prices for 9 out of 20 pet medical services have increased, including an 8.3% rise in X-ray fees and a 6.5% increase in consultation fees [3] Group 4: Government Initiatives - The South Korean government is implementing measures to alleviate the financial burden on pet owners, including a new public pet medical fee system and an increase in tax-exempt veterinary services from 102 to 112 items [4] - The government aims to standardize processes for 100 common veterinary services and promote broader adoption of pet insurance to help reduce medical costs for pet owners [4]