Like a son but cheaper - harried South Koreans pamper pets instead of having kids

Kang Sung-il, a pet funeral manager, and his wife Ham Jin-seon play with their pet dog Sancho at his home in Incheon, South Korea, January 15, 2019. Picture taken on January 15, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL (Reuters) - Kang Sung-il buys Sancho, his Pomeranian, a toy every business trip and this Lunar New Year holiday will dress him up in a new $50 suit to visit 'grandma', Kang's mother.

Kang and his wife say children are too expensive and bring too much pressure. Instead they have opted to shower Sancho with love and gifts.