South Korea will ban private bear farming, marking a significant shift in the country’s wildlife protection policies. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will ban private bear farming starting January 24, marking a significant shift in the country’s wildlife protection policies. The Ministry of Environment announced that the new regulations will also allow local governments to prohibit feeding pigeons and impose fines on violators.
The revised Wildlife Protection and Management Act introduces comprehensive changes to existing regulations, encompassing several key provisions. These include specifications for facilities that can house bears for exhibition or research purposes, detailed penalty guidelines for bear farmers who violate compliance requirements, registration procedures for bear protection facilities, and expanded support for wildlife damage prevention infrastructure.
Under the new regulations, bear farming will be prohibited for all individuals, though existing bear farms have been granted a grace period until December 31. If current farm bears are repurposed for exhibition or academic research, they must be housed in designated facilities such as ex-situ conservation institutions, bear protection facilities, biological resource conservation centers, or zoos.
Until the complete phase-out of bear farming, farmers must adhere to strict safety protocols. They are required to immediately report any escapes or safety incidents and take necessary remedial actions. Bears requiring medical attention must be treated by veterinarians. Violations of these requirements will result in fines ranging from 1 million to 2 million won, depending on the number of infractions.
The legislation outlines provisions for bear protection facilities, which can be operated by either government entities or private organizations. Government-run facilities may be managed by institutions such as the Korea National Park Service or the National Institute of Ecology. Private operators must register with the Ministry of Environment and meet specific facility and staffing requirements.
Local governments will have the authority to restrict or prohibit feeding of harmful wildlife, including pigeons. Violators face graduated penalties: 200,000 won for the first offense, 500,000 won for the second, and 1 million won for third and subsequent violations.
The revised law also expands protection against wildlife damage. Support for prevention facilities, previously limited to agricultural, forestry, and fishery damages caused by crow populations, will now extend to urban areas, covering damage to vehicles and buildings.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
