Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, on his listening tour through the alleys of the Namdo Cultural Belt, visited the Gangjin Ogamtong Market in Gangjin-eup, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do on the 11th. There, he greeted supporters while holding a supporter’s pet dog in his arms. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, May 21 (Korea Bizwire) — Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, has pledged to overhaul the nation’s animal welfare framework by introducing a Basic Animal Welfare Act and establishing a National Animal Welfare Promotion Agency, aiming to consolidate currently fragmented government responsibilities related to animals.
In a policy statement released via Facebook on Wednesday, Lee outlined a shift from simple animal protection to a broader welfare-based system. “Animals should be recognized not merely as beings to be protected, but as living creatures whose health, nutrition, safety, and behavioral needs should be respected throughout their life cycle,” he stated.
A key component of Lee’s plan is reducing the financial burden of pet ownership. With veterinary costs reportedly accounting for up to 40% of monthly pet-related expenses, he proposed the introduction of standardized medical fees and treatment protocols to improve transparency and affordability.
He also vowed to increase the adoption of pet insurance by raising pet registration rates and upgrading relevant infrastructure, while expanding exemptions from value-added tax (VAT) on veterinary services.
To combat abuse and abandonment, Lee pledged to enact a mandatory animal ownership ban for individuals convicted of cruelty and to tighten regulation of illegal breeding operations and unlicensed shelters.
His platform also extends to farm, zoo, and lab animals. Lee proposed increased support for farms certified under animal welfare standards and announced plans to provide direct subsidies to those implementing best-practice guidelines.
He also called for upgrades to zoo and aquarium conditions to better reflect animals’ ecological needs and emphasized strengthening the conservation and educational roles of public wildlife facilities.
Finally, Lee committed to promoting alternatives to animal testing by legislating a new “Act on the Promotion of Alternatives to Animal Testing,” with the goal of reducing the use of lab animals.
The policy package marks one of the most detailed animal welfare proposals from a major presidential candidate ahead of South Korea’s 2027 election.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
