South Korea’s decision to allow pets inside certain cafés and restaurants is fueling demand for digital tools that help owners verify their animals’ health records, giving new momentum to pet-tech platforms that store vaccination data on mobile devices.
The regulatory change, which took effect March 1, allows pets to enter designated “pet-friendly” restaurants, snack bars and bakeries under specific conditions. One key requirement is that owners must be able to confirm their pets’ vaccination status when entering establishments that permit animals.
The rule is turning what was once a niche feature into a practical necessity for many pet owners.
Pet-health platform IntoPet said it has expanded its app to enable users to check vaccination records directly from their smartphones, eliminating the need to carry paper vaccination booklets.
The app’s developer, IntoCNS, said the feature is likely to become more useful as more businesses open their doors to animals and as consumers seek convenient ways to demonstrate their pets meet health requirements.
“With pet-friendly restaurant policies now in place, verifying vaccination records will likely become more important,” a company official said. “Pet owners will be able to manage their animals’ health information digitally and present proof immediately when required.”
Under revised rules tied to the country’s Food Sanitation Act, restaurants registered as pet-friendly establishments can allow animals and their owners to remain in the same dining space, provided hygiene and safety standards are maintained.
The policy aims to expand dining options for both pet owners and other customers while establishing clear health safeguards for businesses that welcome animals.
However, the regulations also require pet owners to present proof of vaccination—traditionally recorded in paper booklets issued by veterinary clinics.
Digital pet-health platforms are stepping in to simplify that process.
IntoPet offers a mobile “health booklet” that stores veterinary visit histories and vaccination records after users visit partner clinics. Owners can instantly verify their pets’ vaccination status on a smartphone when entering pet-friendly restaurants.
The company says the app has attracted more than one million users and is evolving beyond a simple vaccination record tool into a broader pet-health platform.
In addition to vaccination records, the platform provides veterinary appointment bookings, medical visit tracking, community forums for pet owners and AI-generated health reports based on veterinary data. The app also includes daily pet-care logs and walking trackers designed to help owners manage their animals’ health more systematically.
As South Korea’s pet population continues to grow and more businesses adopt pet-friendly policies, digital health tools for animals are emerging as an important component of the country’s rapidly expanding pet-care industry.
Companies such as IntoCNS are building platforms that connect veterinary electronic medical records with consumer-facing apps, creating what they describe as a more integrated digital infrastructure for pet healthcare.
