A pet owner walks their dogs along the Cheonggye Stream in Seoul on Sept. 30, 2024. Yonhap
A pet owner walks their dogs along the Cheonggye Stream in Seoul on Sept. 30, 2024. Yonhap

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the extension of its pet-friendly pilot program that allows residents to walk their dogs along a designated 4.1-kilometer section of the Cheonggye Stream.

The pilot program, launched Sept. 30, 2024, was initially set to wrap up around the end of last year, but the deadline was extended to June 30, 2025.

The city government cited the need to collect more data on dog owners' use of the Cheonggye Stream area.

The extended program will maintain its original rules, including keeping the walking area confined to the 4.1-kilometer section along the stream spanning from Hwanghak Bridge in Dongdaemun-gu to the Jungnang Stream confluence in Seongdong-gu.

Dog owners must keep their pets on leashes no longer than 1.5 meters and bring waste bags to clean up after their pets.

From Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, an average of 65 people -- 60 on weekdays and 74 on weekends -- walked their pets along Cheonggyecheon daily, data compiled by the Seoul Metropolitan Government showed.

The number declined as the temperature dropped in the winter season, but the pet owners complied well with the rules, the officials noted.

Of the 396 Cheonggyecheon-related complaints filed with the city government, 24 were about pet owners and their pets. The complaints centered on the need for clearer notices about the pilot program and better cleaning of the walking paths.

The city government plans to collect the opinions of residents and pet owners using the stream during the extended six-month trial period to improve and better manage the program.

Overall, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been steadily expanding its pet-friendly programs annually to cater to pet owners living in the city.

It has collaborated with district governments to operate pet care centers during the Lunar New Year holiday for citizens seeking to visit their families outside Seoul. It plans to relaunch the pet care program this year.

In recent years, the city government has allocated funds for each district to set up dog playgrounds. An estimated 150 million won ($104,347) is funneled into each district.