Pet lovers seek special 'Hanbok' costumes to celebrate Lunar New Year

This image shows a dog wearing Hanbok. [Courtesy of SSG.COM]

SEOUL -- Pet lovers are busy looking for special products through online shopping malls to treat their pet friends during a three-day Korean Lunar New Year holiday, market data showed.

South Korea observes Lunar New Year's Day, known as Seol in Korean, as one of the most important traditional holidays. Traditionally, family members have gathered to dress up in "Hanbok," a traditional Korean costume, and hold a traditional ancestral rite for ancestors.

However, because of the increasing number of single households and a coronavirus pandemic, many have chosen to stay at home instead of visiting close relatives. The holiday falls on February 11, 12, and 13.

According to data released by an online shopping mall operated by South Korea's retail giant Shinsegae Group, sales of Hanbok specially designed for pets have increased by 50 percent between January 19 and February 1, compared to the first two weeks of January. Sales of pet toys have also increased by 34 percent.

This image shows ready-to-cook meal kits specially designed for pets. [Courtesy of Lotte On]

Pet-related products were popular in other online shopping malls. According to Lotte On, the online shopping mall of Lotte Group, some Seol-themed meal kits, which are ready-to-cook packages of ingredients, for pets were sold out in just a few days of release.

"We expect that consumers will spend more money to buy pet-related products as many people will stay at their homes," a Lotte On official said in a statement. The meal kits included menus of Korean rice cake soup and cookies. There are at least 5.9 million households with pets. South Korea's pet market was valued at 3.7 trillion won ($3.3 billion) in 2020.