A scene from the 2023 Cheongdo Bullfighting Festival (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Korea Bizwire) — The long-standing tradition of bullfighting in South Korea, celebrated as a local cultural event in regions like Cheongdo, will not be designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, following a decision by the Cultural Heritage Administration.
The move comes amid heated debate over whether the practice should be preserved as a cultural legacy or condemned as animal cruelty.
The Intangible Heritage Committee announced that it would not pursue the designation process this year, citing concerns about the practice’s alignment with universal human values.
While the committee acknowledged the partial cultural significance of bullfighting as a traditional folk game, it decided against further investigation into its heritage status.
Bullfighting in South Korea involves two bulls locking horns in combat, a tradition believed to date back nearly 2,000 years. It has been a prominent feature of local festivals, particularly in rural areas.
The Jeong-eup, Jeollabuk-do, cattle fighting competition, which has been held since the late 1990s, is being abolished in line with the trend of realizing animal welfare.
However, the proposal to recognize it as a national intangible cultural heritage has faced mounting opposition from animal welfare and environmental groups.
The Cultural Heritage Administration had initially planned to assess the value of bullfighting in 2024. However, following intense criticism and concerns over potential social controversy, the process was postponed.
Instead, the administration conducted a scholarly investigation into the practice, examining its domestic and international transmission, historical context, and parallels with similar traditions elsewhere. The findings informed the committee’s decision to halt further proceedings.
Animal rights organizations welcomed the decision. Groups such as Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), Korean Animal Welfare Association , and Animal Liberation Wave, collectively part of the “National Action for the Abolition of Bullfighting,” issued a statement applauding the committee’s move.
In February 2023, a child holds an anti-bullfighting drawing with their mother during a press conference calling for the abolition of bullfighting, held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. (Yonhap)
“Globally, forcing animals to fight is widely recognized as animal cruelty,” the coalition said. “Bullfighting is a clear violation of animal welfare laws and constitutes animal abuse.” They further urged local governments to end taxpayer-funded bullfighting events, calling for a roadmap to phase out such practices entirely.
The decision underscores a broader societal shift in South Korea, as debates over the balance between cultural preservation and animal rights continue to grow. For now, the centuries-old tradition of bullfighting remains a contested symbol, caught between its historical roots and modern ethical considerations.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
