There are currently 597 reconstruction sites in Seoul, where a number of stray cats are known to have taken up abode. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — The mayor of Seoul has announced that the city will create a coexisting environment for animals by protecting stray cats at redevelopment sites.
Mayor Park Won-soon promised to take action on a proposal made via the city’s civic participation platform asking the government to protect stray cats at sites undergoing redevelopment.
“Some 140,000 stray cats needs protection to coexist with Seoulites,” he said.
The city plans to conduct on-site research to assess the population of stray animals in old buildings and complexes, and collect the views of animal activists or local residents on how to protect them.
The city also plans to require construction companies to provide notice of the date of demolition at redevelopment sites to secure enough time to protect stray or abandoned animals.
Park vowed to establish the Seoul Animal Welfare Support Center to treat and adopt abandoned animals as well as offer courses on animal protection.
The new initiative is in response to a proposal posted on Democracy Seoul, Seoul’s civic platform, that attracted more than 5000 likes and 5,000 comments.
This is the mayor’s second time to respond to a civic proposal since last December. The proposal received a record-breaking 5,659 likes and 5,250 comments.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
