Animal welfare and rights in South Korea Explained

Animal welfare and rights in South Korea are a complex and multifaceted issue. South Korea has a long history of animal cruelty, with many cases of animal abuse and neglect reported in recent years.

In 2017, a video of a dog being brutally beaten by a police officer in Seoul sparked widespread outrage and calls for reform. This incident led to the establishment of the Animal Protection Act, which aims to prevent animal cruelty and promote animal welfare.

The Animal Protection Act prohibits animal abuse, including physical and psychological harm, and requires animal owners to provide adequate care and housing for their pets. However, enforcement of the law remains a challenge, and many animal welfare organizations continue to report cases of animal abuse and neglect.

Animal welfare organizations in South Korea are working tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for animal rights.

Expand your knowledge: South Korean Wildlife

South Korea has a comprehensive Animal Protection Act, passed in 1991, which aims to promote animal welfare and prevent cruelty.

The law prohibits cruelty against vertebrates such as dogs, cats, and horses, but excludes fish and other animals commonly used by humans. Cruelty includes killing an animal by a cruel method or in public, injuring an animal with a tool or drug, and collecting fluid from the body of a live animal.

The penalty for cruelty is imprisonment with labor up to 1 year or a fine of approximately 8,450 USD. The law also creates a duty of care, requiring owners and keepers of animals to provide appropriate feed and water and ensure animals exercise and rest adequately.

Farm animals are protected under the law, which requires registration, certain protections during transport, and humane slaughter methods. The government must formulate and implement a comprehensive animal welfare plan every five years.

In addition to the Animal Protection Act, the Wildlife Protection and Management Act prohibits killing wild animals by cruel methods like poisoning and hurting captured animals.

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Animal farming in South Korea is a significant industry, with per capita meat consumption increasing from 11.3 kg in 1980 to 42.7 kg in 2013.

Pigs and chickens are farmed intensively, with production growing substantially over the past three decades. Pork production grew by 200% in the 1980s and over 50% in the 1990s.

Many beef cattle in South Korea originated as draft animals on rice farms and are still raised on rice farms as a secondary activity in small operations of 1-4 cattle at a time.

For your interest: Dog Meat Consumption in South Korea

Animal farming and consumption in South Korea are on the rise. Per capita meat consumption increased from 11.3 kg in 1980 to 42.7 kg in 2013.

Vegetarianism and veganism are relatively rare in South Korea.

Beef cattle originated as draft animals on rice farms, and many are still raised on rice farms today.

Pigs and chickens are farmed intensively, with production growing substantially over the past three decades.

Growth in poultry production began to grow significantly in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of fast-food fried chicken franchises.

Pork production grew by 200% in the 1980s and over 50% in the 1990s.

The dog meat trade is a major concern for South Korean animal activists, with over 2 million dogs consumed each year.

Pet dogs are often stolen and sold into the trade, where they are killed in brutal ways, such as beating or electrocution.

If this caught your attention, see: Korean Dog Meat Trade

Testing is a crucial aspect of many industries, and it's no exception in the realm of animal welfare. In South Korea, a 2013 poll found that 7/10 respondents supported an end to testing cosmetics on animals.

The government has taken steps to address this issue, with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety proposing a policy to recognize non-animal test results for certain cosmetics in 2013. This policy aimed to reduce the number of animals used in testing.

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A significant number of animals are still used in research, with 2,878,907 animals used in 2016 alone. Rodents made up the majority of these animals, accounting for 91.4% of the total.

The public is increasingly demanding alternatives to animal testing, with almost 82% of respondents in a 2020 poll wanting to see their tax money spent on supporting advanced approaches instead of animal testing.

Broaden your view: Animal Testing Laboratories

South Korea is one of the five largest fur importers in the world, purchasing ₩247 billion worth of furs in 2012.

The total market value of fur rose from ₩789 billion in 2007 to ₩1.1 trillion in 2012, showing a significant increase in demand.

Leather demand is also on the rise, with a 48% increase between 2007 and 2012.

The market value of leather reached ₩1.6 trillion in 2012, with 66% of it being produced domestically.

Animal protection policies have improved in Korea, with laws passed in 2015, 2016, and 2017, including the prohibition on testing cosmetics on animals and legislation on the management of zoos and aquaria.

Korean Animal Welfare Association and Korea Animal Rights Advocates are the largest and most respected animal organizations in South Korea, working tirelessly for animal welfare.

International Aid for Korean Animals (IAKA) was founded in 1997 to educate the public about the cruelty of trade in dog meat and animal medicine.

Since 2015, Humane Society International (HSI)/Korea has rescued more than 2,500 dogs from dog meat farms and partnered with multiple Korean groups in petitions, protests, and awareness-raising campaigns.

HSI/Korea's Models for Change program has helped dog meat farmers transition to alternative, humane livelihoods such as mushroom farming.

The California-based organization In Defense of Animals partners with South Korean allies to stage animal rights protests, rescue dogs from dog farms, and lobby the government to better enforce existing animal protection laws.

In the past, up to 1 million dogs were raised, farmed, and killed for human consumption each year in South Korea, but thanks to efforts from organizations like Humane World for Animals, the number has decreased.

Humane World for Animals helped close 18 dog meat farms and rescued over 2,700 dogs, who found loving homes across the world.

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The government of South Korea has made efforts to establish supportive bodies for animal protection. Article 5 of the Animal Protection Act (2017) establishes an Animal Welfare Committee within the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Responsibility for animal welfare is divided across multiple government ministries and departments, which can make alignment and coordination challenging. The responsibility for different types of animals currently falls under multiple Ministries and Departments.

The Animal Protection Act (2017) requires the government to formulate and implement a comprehensive plan for animal welfare every five years. Article 4 of the Act requires this plan to be comprehensive.

The Korea Food and Drug Administration is responsible for formulating and promoting policies concerning the use of laboratory animals. The Administration is also responsible for registration and supervision of research facilities.

The OIE's animal welfare standards have not been formally transposed into policy and legislation in South Korea. Existing legislation such as the Animal Protection Act (2017) covers some issues established in the OIE guiding principles and animal welfare standards.

In the past decade or so, public support for animal protection has increased significantly.

The South Korean government has taken notice and updated its animal protection legislation accordingly.

A major milestone was reached in 2024 when the National Assembly voted through a ban on the dog meat industry.

This ban includes a three-year phase out, which will make the breeding, slaughter and sale of dogs and dog meat for human consumption illegal from 2027.

Despite this progress, practical steps must be prioritized to stop puppies from being born on farms during the dog meat trade phase out period.

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South Korea has implemented various laws to protect animal welfare, such as the Animal Protection Act, which was revised in 2016 to include stricter penalties for animal cruelty.

The country has also established the Animal Protection Agency to oversee animal welfare and enforcement of related laws.

Animal shelters and rescue organizations, like the Korean Animal Welfare Association, play a crucial role in providing care and finding homes for abandoned animals.

The Korean government has set a goal to increase the number of animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country.

Public awareness campaigns, such as the "Love Dogs" initiative, have been launched to educate the public about responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying/neutering pets.

The Korean Animal Welfare Association has also been promoting animal-friendly tourism, encouraging tourists to visit animal shelters and experience animal welfare firsthand.

The Animal Protection Agency has been working with local governments to develop and implement animal welfare policies.

The Korean government has allocated funds to support animal welfare initiatives, such as the establishment of animal shelters and rescue organizations.

For more insights, see: Animal Rescue Group