Banlife is making pet-friendly travel a reality, offering unforgettable trips for pet owners and their furry friends
| Lee Hye-mi, CEO of Banlife (Banlife Inc.) |
Exploring new places with their pets is often at the top of pet owners' bucket lists.
But fun as it sounds, it can be quite challenging.
It was a difficulty Banlife CEO Lee Hye-mi experienced herself.
“I love to travel, and when I first adopted my two Welsh corgis 14 years ago, I wanted to go places with them," she told The Korea Herald. "We’ve been everywhere in the country together. When we first started traveling, I had to double-check whether the places we planned to visit allowed pets."
"There were no apps back then. That’s when I thought I should create one myself to help people traveling with their dogs,” she added.
Sensing other pet-owners could face similar difficulties, she created Banlife five years ago. The platform offers reservation services and information on accommodations, tourist spots, restaurants and cafes where dogs and cats can accompany their owners.
| Lee Hye-mi, CEO of Banlife Inc. (Banlife Inc.) |
Lee’s previous experience as a developer at the country’s largest food delivery platform was invaluable in creating the pet travel service.
“In the beginning, it was a rough road because people were much more hesitant to travel with their pets than I had anticipated. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. But that didn’t stop us. We could have shifted our focus to other profitable areas of the pet business, such as retail, but we wanted to stick to our plan of providing a service that introduces pet-friendly destinations and encourages people to make memories with their pets,” Lee added.
| A Buddhist monk interacts with dogs during a templestay. (Banlife Inc.) |
To help users get started, the platform began offering unique one-day trips, such as templestays.
“Last year, we introduced a templestay package so that people could experience a short, easy trip and realize that traveling with pets can be fun."
Mireuksa, a Buddhist temple in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, offers a stay with dogs, where pets get handmade temple robes, enjoy peaceful walks around the grounds and accompany their owners for tea with a monk.
Guests can try traditional temple cuisine, participate in sacred rituals such as the 108 bows, and make colorful lotus lanterns. The package provides an opportunity to connect with nature, practice mindfulness and strengthen the bond with a furry companion in a tranquil, spiritual setting.
"I know traveling with pets isn't easy because there are lots of pet-related items to pack, and sometimes dogs misbehave, making it even harder. To help with this, we also introduced a travel package where dog trainers accompany customers to help correct these misbehaviors,” Lee said, highlighting some of the platform’s travel offerings.
She believes the growing acceptance of pets as precious family members has helped the industry expand.
“Now, there are even Starbucks stores that allow pets. Local governments are also increasingly interested in investing in pet-friendly tourism. This shift in perception is reflected in our profits, which are doubling each year. There are so many beautiful destinations in the country that could be introduced to pet owners,” she said.
However, many limitations remain when traveling with pets, such as restrictions on transportation — like trains, buses and airplanes — on dogs over a certain weight or of particular breeds, and only a small number of restaurants, cafes and tourist spots allow dogs.
“For example, if you want to travel to Jeju Island, you have to fly. So in 2023, we chartered a flight exclusively for our customers so they could fly with their pets sitting right next to them. Now, other travel platforms are offering similar products. Additionally, there are about four beaches in the country, including Meong Beach in Yangyang, Gangwon Province, where the local government has legally allowed pets during the summer season,” Lee said.
| A dog sits front of Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. (Instagram account @yangsong_1978) |
As the weather warms up and spring flowers begin to bloom, Lee suggests visiting Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province. Gyeongju, often referred to as "a museum without walls," is a city in the southeastern part of South Korea, known for its rich historical and cultural heritage.
“It seems a lot of people have been searching for Gyeongju lately. Maybe it’s because Gyeongju was recently selected as a pet-friendly tourism city. In Gyeongju, historical sites like the ruins are not accessible to pets, but there are plenty of spots where you can take cute photos, like places with a view of the Cheomseongdae Observatory. It’s always nice to visit places that are pet-friendly and easy to explore,” she said.
| A dog at Haslla Art World in Gangneung, Gangwon Province (Instagram account @darlyppo) |
"What I like about spending time with my pet is that it's really fun. Pets are quirky, and just watching them is enjoyable. When traveling, a lot of fun situations arise, and I feel like pets become great travel mates," Lee said.
"Once you experience this, you'll want to keep doing it. It’s not about being told to do it, but once you see how their expressions change, it’s hard not to enjoy it. Most pet owners love traveling with their pets."
