Journal of Rural Development
A Study on the Change of Issues Related to Companion Animal Using Keyword Network Analysis
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AuthorHong, Jaeho
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Publication Date2025.06.21
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Original
In recent years, the number of households raising companion animals in Korea has steadily increased, driven by various socioeconomic factors. Along with this trend, public perception and social awareness have notably shifted. This study examines the changes in companion animal-related discourse from 2020 to 2024 through a keyword network analysis of news articles. Frequency analysis shows that earlier discussions focused on adoption and abandonment, while later years saw expanded themes, such as welfare, culture, and industry. Welfare-related keywords were dominant in the early period but gradually gave way to more practical topics, such as festivals, parks, and insurance. Centrality analysis indicates that in 2020, keywords related to household growth were central, whereas by 2024, market expansion and industrial growth became more prominent. CONCOR analysis reveals that in 2020, themes such as social change, perceptions of abandoned animals, caregiving costs, and services were clustered together. By 2024, clusters emphasized the pet industry and culture, healthcare, pet travel, and specialized products and spaces. These results suggest a growing diversification in pet owners’ interests and highlight the need for community-based pet-friendly environments, industry support, responsible ownership, and efforts to reduce regional disparities.
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