Paw Print Keepsakes in South Korea
A print has to be taken while your pet is still with you, or before cremation, so a little planning helps. Here's how to get a clear paw print in South Korea, who can take it for you and what finishing it costs.
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South Korea
Paw Print Keepsakes in South Korea: what to know
Every country organizes pet aftercare its own way, and South Korea is no exception. On any provider's list, look for three things: whether a print is included, what material it's made in, and whether it's taken before or after your pet leaves the clinic. Those answers matter more than the name on the van.
In South Korea, most families arrange aftercare through their vet, who works with one or more pet crematoria. Prints are commonly offered but not always mentioned, so it's worth asking by name. You can also take a print yourself at home, which gives you full control over timing and the number of copies.
We cover 7 communities in South Korea, from Seoul, Busan and Incheon to smaller towns.
How South Korea thinks about cremation, and why prints matter
Cremation is the everyday choice in South Korea: about 92.43%[1] of people who die there are cremated. Pet aftercare tends to follow the same habits, which means most pets here end up as a small box of ashes. Ashes don't show a paw, a nose or the shape of a toe. That's a big part of why prints matter so much in high-cremation places, and why local crematories are so used to being asked for one.
Source for the South Korea figure: Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023 (2023). It describes human funerals and is here as context, not as a count of pets.
What owners in South Korea typically pay for a print
Hong Kong shows how packages are built: one provider lists basic individual cremation at HKD 1,300 for a 1 to 5 kg pet[2], with extras added on top. A paw print is typically one of the least expensive extras. Wherever you are, ask providers in South Korea to price the print separately so you can compare fairly.
Pet funeral providers across Asia usually sell packages, and some include a paw print, a fur clipping or a small keepsake. We haven't found reliable local prices for prints on their own. For context, a Tokyo memorial park charges JPY 22,000 for individual cremation of a pet under 5 kg[3]. Ask providers in South Korea exactly what their package covers.
| Place or item | Published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo, individual cremation, pet under 5 kg | JPY 22,000[3] | Tax included; ask about a print |
| Singapore, private cremation, cat under 5 kg | SGD 280[4] | Niches extra |
| Hong Kong, individual cremation, 1 to 5 kg pet | HKD 1,300[2] | Basic package |
| Paw print add-on (US median, for comparison) | about $32[5] | No published local price found |
None of the figures on this this page are ours alone: they rest on PETMENTO (Hong Kong pet funeral provider) and Tokyo Animal Memorial Park (東京動物霊園).
Free tool
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Rules in South Korea that touch on keepsakes
Some towns and councils in South Korea run a collection service for pets who die at home, usually without returning any ashes. If that's the route you take, a print will be the only keepsake you have, so take it before you call. The notes below cover the other options: home burial, pet cemeteries and scattering ashes.
What to do first, and what can wait
- Choose one calm afternoon and do all the pets together, beginning with whichever one is least bothered by handling.
- Label everything before you start: a name on the back of each card, or a letter scratched into the underside of each clay disc.
- Use a separate ink pad or wipe for each animal then wipe each paw clean the moment you're done, so nobody licks ink off a housemate.
- Keep each turn short, a couple of minutes per pet, with a treat after every press.
- Make a combined piece if you like: several paws on one large card or clay slab makes a family portrait.
- Store the set together and date each one on the reverse, so that years from now none of them has gone astray.
Keeping the print and the memory close
A garden stone with your pet's paw pressed into it is a lovely outdoor memorial, especially where they used to lie in the sun. Make it from the clay print as a template, or ask a local stonemason to engrave the scanned image. Our guide to displaying prints and engraved tags has more ideas.
From here: services and prices, the free tools, what readers voted in the polls, or the map of every location.
Reader polls
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Free tools to help you plan
Memorial budget planner
Add up cremation, urn, keepsakes and a farewell so the total holds no surprises.
Paw print keepsake chooser
Match a print method to your pet's size, fur and the keepsake you want to keep.
Jewelry ash capacity guide
How much ash fits in pendants, rings and glass, and how many pieces one pet can fill.
Questions people ask
Can I get a hoof print from a horse in South Korea?
Yes. Ask your farrier to trim and clean the hoof, then press it into a thick clay slab or paint the sole with non-toxic paint and press it onto heavy card. Many horse owners also keep the last shoe and a braid of tail hair. Do it while your horse is still well if you can.
Where can I get a paw print keepsake in South Korea?
Across South Korea, most vets, in-home euthanasia vets and pet crematories can take a clay or ink paw print, usually before cremation. You can also take one yourself at home with a kit. For jewelry, engraving or art, local makers and online studios both work from a clear print or a scan. Ask for the print when you book aftercare, not afterwards.
Are there rules about paw prints in South Korea?
No. You can take, keep, post and display a paw print, cast or ashes pendant freely. The rules in South Korea cover burial and scattering, which matter if you plan a garden stone set with the print or want to scatter ashes after keeping a pinch for jewelry.
Should I take a print of my senior pet now?
If you can, yes. A relaxed, living pet usually gives the crispest print, and there's no time pressure. Choose a calm, good day, after a meal or a walk, and take several so you can keep the clearest. Many owners in South Korea say the afternoon itself becomes a memory.
Can I get more than one copy of my pet's print in South Korea?
Yes. Request two prints from your vet or crematory at the time of booking; it's a common request and usually costs little extra. Ink prints take seconds, so a home session can produce as many as you like. If you only have one original, scan it and have copies printed, engraved or cast, so every person in the family has their own without anyone giving up the original.
How much does a paw print cost in South Korea?
Published prices for prints alone are scarce, because most are sold within a cremation package or quoted on request. As a benchmark, a US crematory network lists a clay paw print at $76[7], and a UK studio casts a small dog's paw in resin from about £120[8]. Ask local providers for a written price.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] In 2023, 92.43% of deaths in South Korea were cremated (60 crematoria). Cremation Society of Great Britain, International Cremation Statistics 2023, 2023.
- [2] A Hong Kong provider lists basic individual cremation at HKD 1,300 for a 1-5 kg pet and HKD 3,000 for a 20-30 kg dog. PETMENTO (Hong Kong pet funeral provider) - Pet funeral price list, 2026.
- [3] Tokyo Animal Memorial Park charges JPY 14,300 for communal and JPY 22,000 for individual cremation of a pet under 5 kg (tax incl.). Tokyo Animal Memorial Park (東京動物霊園) - Price list, 2026.
- [4] The same Singapore provider lists private cremation at SGD 280 for a cat under 5 kg and SGD 480 for a 10-20 kg dog; columbarium niches start at SGD 300 for the first year with SGD 180 yearly renewal. Singapore Pet Columbarium - Prices, 2026.
- [5] Paw-print add-ons at US crematories have a median price of about $32, from $10 to $76. Our estimate: median of [$10 clay (AGP), $15 laser engraving (AGP), $49 ink (Final Gift), $76 clay (Final Gift)]. How we calculate.
- [6] Around 765,000 U.S. families a year are likely open to a personalized pet keepsake. Our estimate: 1.5M pet cremations x 51% interest in personalized memorials. How we calculate.
- [7] Final Gift charges $49 for ink paw prints, $76 for a clay or silver-clay paw print, $111 framed, and $133 framed with a fur clipping; a fur clipping alone costs $23. Final Gift Pet Memorial Center – Memorial Products, 2026.
- [8] Brighton Body Casting in the UK charges from about £120 to cast a small dog's paw pads in resin; medium and large breeds cost about 1/5 and 1/3 more. Brighton Body Casting – Pets, 2026.
Tell us about your pet's print
Tell us what you need and where you are. We'll reply by email with clear options and prices so you can decide in your own time.