A pet memorial center in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. (image: Goodbyeangel)
SEOUL, April 17 (Korea Bizwire) — With the growing number of households having pets, the soaring demand for animal cremation centers is leading to conflicts between businesses and local residents.
Around 300 residents in Gunwi County, North Gyeongsang Province, plan to submit a petition calling on the government to withdraw approval for the construction of a local animal cremation center.
The petition targets a local firm whose plan for building a 655-square-meter animal cremation center was approved by the government.
In January, the city of Gwangju witnessed a conflict between local businesses and civic groups over the construction of the region’s first animal cremation center.
A company in Gwangsan District submitted a request to change the use of the building from office space to an animal cremation facility, which the district office rejected. The business then filed a lawsuit to protest the decision.
In July of last year, a private business in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, sought to use a factory building as an animal cremation center, but ran into harsh opposition from local residents.
In 2017, a local firm in Daegu’s Seo District sought to build an animal cremation center but was denied by local authorities. The lawsuit ended up in the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of local authorities last February.
The Supreme Court considered the fact that the animal cremation center, once built, would be close to a public school, which was the source of opposition among local residents.
“The demand for animal cremation centers increases every year,” said Shim In-seop, head of Live In Freedom & Equality (LIFE), an animal protection organization.
“The government and local authorities should look for ways to set up animal cremation centers at public cremation facilities and minimize opposition.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
