Demolition site's stray cats and sparrows: A story of coexistence [Jeong Jin-ah's Different, Together]

The demolition of an old office building, once a shared space for humans and animals, prompts reflection on the lives disrupted by urban development. For over 20 years, the site was home not only to people but also to stray cats and various birds. The cats have since been relocated, but the activist continues to provide water for the birds, a poignant act of remembrance.

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The cats that called the office yard home moved to a place operated by the organization, and we make sure to visit the old building to refill the water bowls for the birds whenever possible.

This personal experience serves as a microcosm for the broader issue of urban redevelopment across South Korea. Construction sites, whether for redevelopment or reconstruction, displace countless creatures. Stray cats, birds nesting under eaves, and insects in the soil are all residents whose existence is often erased in the process of building anew. While environmental impact assessments consider endangered species, they often reflect a human-centric hierarchy of life, leaving less 'valued' animals vulnerable.

Animals living in close proximity to humans, such as stray cats and pigeons, fall into a category often termed 'border animals.' They are neither fully wild nor domestic, making them particularly susceptible to the impacts of development. The activist argues for their legal protection, emphasizing the need for surveys of their habitats and measures to prevent them from being trapped or buried during construction.

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However, the survival of other residents, who are not human, is being completely erased in the process of destruction and reconstruction, where the existing world collapses and a new space is built within the surrounding barriers.

Despite efforts by animal welfare groups to support community initiatives and advocate for protective measures with local governments and construction companies, the scale of the problem is overwhelming. The activist expresses a sense of helplessness when faced with situations where intervention is impossible. The current system, reliant on the goodwill of citizens and the dedication of a few, has clear limitations. True solutions require systemic change, shifting the focus from individual rescues to institutionalizing the rights of these animals within urban planning processes.

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It is bitter that even that is based on a 'life grade' determined by human eyes.

Returning to the old office site, now eerily quiet and awaiting demolition, the activist hears the persistent chirping of birds. These sounds are a reminder that life continues even as human structures fall. The piece concludes with a powerful statement: if humans alone hold the authority to reshape cities, they must also bear the responsibility for all beings displaced in the process.

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These border animals, which are treated as less important beings due to their proximity to humans, are also the biggest victims of development for the same reason.