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Two sides of ‘pet’ variety shows

  • Published : Mar 1, 2017 - 21:12
  • Updated : Mar 1, 2017 - 21:12

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(A Man Who Feeds the Dogs)

“Sundae” and “Gunbam” are two keywords currently taking over social media, but they are not people. Rather, these two words refer to the cats and dogs appearing in Korean TV shows.

The number of TV programs featuring pets with celebrities are on the rise. Some stars appear with their own pets, while others just film themselves playing with their pets. It has become a trend, with stars gaining popularity through their pets.

When Koo Hye-sun and her husband Ahn Jae-hyun starred in tvN’s variety program “Newlyweds Diary” with their pets Sundae and Gunbam, video clips of the couple’s pets went viral on social media. Dog trainer Kang Hyung-wook is a rising star on MBC’s “My Little Television” where he shows celebrities how to train their dogs.

One of pet-focused TV programs is Channel A’s “A Man Who Feeds the Dogs,” a variety show in which celebrities take care of the dogs and bond with them. It was one of the most popular pet programs with more than 2 percent viewership. A dog named “Sanche” that appeared on CJ E&M’s “Three Meals a Day” episode in August 2016 also went viral on social media for its cute image.

Experts said that the pet craze reflects the growing number of people living by themselves who could easily feel lonely.

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(My Little Television)

According to a survey by KB Financial Group released on Feb. 23, the number of people living alone has been growing for the past few years, reaching 5.2 million in 2015, while the number of people with pets accounted for 11.9 percent of the 1,500 who answered that they lived alone.

Netizens also leave comments such as “Raising such cute dogs will lighten up my dull life” or “I live alone, and I want dogs” under the pet video clips.

Viewers relieve stress and loneliness through pet variety shows, but it bares a side effect. Pets appearing on TV shows are usually young, cute, rare breeds and are often branded “star-dogs.” This, according to experts, could lead people to rush into adopting the pets without thinking it through.

“Many people adopted the long-haired Chihuahua after the breed went famous on "Three Meals a Day,’” said an official from the Korean Animal Welfare Association. “But many pet owners abandon the dogs after they find it difficult to raise them.”

The official said pet owners should think before adopting a pet they saw on a TV show. He added pets should be at least three months old, as it is harder to control them when they are younger.

“I want a dog so badly because I live alone,” a woman surnamed Jeong in her 20s told The Korea Herald. “But I can’t because I’m working. I would feel bad for leaving the dog alone.”

By Hong Dam-young (dyhong@heraldcorp.com)