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An image of the “Pet Air Shower and Dry Room” developed by Cuckoo Electronics for pets that are difficult to bathe daily (from Cuckoo Electronics' website)

South Korean appliance companies have been coming out with new pet appliances targeting a community locally referred to as “petfams,” meaning people who regard their pets as part of the family.

The products launched as part of this “pet economy” boom include everything from vacuums and air purifiers with added pet care features to air showers that pets themselves can use.

The Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs estimated the number of South Korean households with pets last year to be roughly 6.38 million, an increase of 470,000 from 2019.

The Korea Rural Economic Institute predicted that the domestic pet-related industry would grow in scale from 3.7 trillion won (US$3.1 billion) this year to over 6 trillion won (US$5 billion) by 2027. Riding this wave, new pet appliances have been focused mainly on helping pet-owning families deal with the hassles of smells and shedding associated with pets.

Perhaps the best examples of these pet appliances are vacuum cleaners, washing machines and air purifiers.

In July, LG Electronics launched its “Puricare 360° Air Purifier Pet Alpha Objet Collection.” The products have a “pet mode” with jets roughly 64% stronger than in auto mode (according the company’s own tests), helping to effectively clean fur and dander out of the spaces used by pets.

Pet fur and dander sticks to an attachable ultrafine filter, from which it can be easily removed. The filters can also be rinsed with water and reused. According to the company, they outperform other products at odor removal.

Samsung Electronics has scored a hit with its Bespoke Jet Bot AI, a robot vacuum cleaner that can also look after pets while their owners are away.

Equipped with lidar sensors and AI object recognition solutions, the item also features a SmartThings Pet service that notifies humans when pets are detected behaving unusually, including excessive noises or long periods without movement. A camera can be set to record images of the pets at specified times and places.

Between its April launch and August, the item accounted for 60% of all Samsung Electronics robot vacuum sales.

LG Electronics’ “Puricare 360° Air Purifier Pet Alpha Objet Collection,” which was launched in July (provided by LG Electronics)

Other pet appliances include vacuums equipped with pet brushes for easy removal of fur from sofas and bedding, as well as washing machines and dryers with enhanced fur and smell removal features.

While Samsung and LG Electronics have developed products for human consumers looking after pets, smaller companies like Cuckoo Electronics and Shinil Electronics have led the market in smaller appliances designed to be used by dogs and cats themselves.

Shinil launched its pet appliance brand Furby in 2017, while Cuckoo came out with its Nello brand in 2019. Cuckoo has enjoyed a strong response to its “Pet Air Shower and Dry Room” for pets that can’t be hand-bathed every day.

It consists of twin fans set up in a kennel-like box measuring 41 centimeters by 47centimeters (16 inches by 18 inches). Over one 30-minute session, three-dimensional jets of air remove stray fur from the pet’s body and dry the fuzzy friend off.

It’s drawn particular notice among people with pets as word of mouth has spread about its benefits in reducing the hassles of drying pets off. A rental service is also available.

Shinil offers the “Pet Grooming Dryer,” which allows for simultaneous grooming, drying and styling, and the “Spa and Dry” pet bathtub, which also includes a massage feature.

By Sun Dam-eun, staff reporter

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