Who says you can’t choose your family? If you’re like me, a fellow pet owner here on Jeju, you understand how important health and happiness are for your furry (or feathery) family members. It’s safe to say that owning and taking good care of a pet anywhere is a huge responsibility; however, it’s even more difficult in a foreign country - not to mention an island where the culture of pet ownership and care hasn’t been cultivated for a long time. I’ve had my puppy, Bubak, for three months now and, during that time, it’s been a challenge to find the right vet, the right park (see Information 4), the right food and the right kennel for her well-being. Although I do not claim to be an expert in Jeju pet care, I will offer some modest and heart-felt advice to all you current and potential pet owners.

Living alone in a foreign country can be, for lack of a better word, lonely. Many people look for different ways to fill the void of being alone in an unfamiliar location. Some even resort to caring for a cat or a dog only to abandon it after their year is up. If you’re like me, and you care enough about a pet to not give it a severe separation anxiety disorder after loving it and leaving it behind, you may want to consider another kind of pet that won’t have any hard feelings after you ditch it. Fish may just be the perfect pet for you. They are pleasant to look at, easy to care for, and could care less if you give them away when you are finished in Korea. Enter Mr. Changsoo Lee—another one of the Lees you need to know.