The new guidelines "epidemiological investigation of a recent group infection case", which led the ministry to consult with South Korea's Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the new rules.
Cats and dogs in South Korea will be tested for Covid-19 if they are exposed to someone with the virus and show suspicious symptoms.
If a pet tests positive for coronavirus its owner must also self-isolate, according to the new regulations. It comes after after a warning in UK, from experts from the University of East Anglia and research facility the Earlham Institute, that the virus can infect a wide range of animals including cats, dogs, mink and other domesticated species.