Experiential zoos better than bear farms? Animal groups say 'not protection' | Hankyoreh (KR) | 2026-07-08 12:00:00 +0000 UTC | ko | The government's transition of farms in Gyeonggi Province into 'bear protection facilities.' Provided by the Bear Habitat Project Advertisement A week after the nationwide ban on raising bears for gallbladders took effect, criticism has emerged that the government's bear protection plan lacks realism. It is pointed out that some facilities the government intends to use as bear protection centers are commercial zoos offering animal experiences and unregistered bear farms that are close to unlicensed zoos, thus failing to guarantee animal welfare. On the 8th, the bear farming protection group 'Bear Habitat Project' issued a statement titled 'Lee Jae-myung Government Should Prepare Proper Measures to End Bear Farming,' claiming that the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is attempting to send farmed bears to substandard facilities. Previously, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced the 'Implementation Plan for Expanding Bear Protection Facilities (Roadmap)' on the 30th of last month, following the end of the grace period for the 'ban on bear farming.' The implementation plan includes the immediate admission of 25 out of 219 farmed bears and the transfer of 104 bears within the year. The 25 bears to be admitted immediately will be protected at the National Park Wildlife Rescue Center's natural adaptation training ground (9 bears), public zoos (5 bears), and converted farm protection facilities (8 bears). The remaining 104 bears are scheduled to be transferred to a public protection facility in Seocheon, Chungnam (64 bears), a private zoo in Gangneung, Gangwon (30 bears), and national park facilities (10 bears) within the year. In addition, for the 90 bears whose protection plans have not yet been finalized, the ministry plans to support their transfer to overseas sanctuaries promoted by the animal protection group 'Animal Freedom Coalition' in consultation with budget authorities for the construction of additional public and private facilities. Advertisement Advertisement The bear farming protection group pointed out that these government plans "cannot be considered bear protection." First, regarding the natural adaptation training ground, which the government has proposed as a facility for immediate admission, it does not meet the area requirements for Asiatic black bears, an internationally endangered species. Furthermore, the farms being converted into 'bear protection facilities' are essentially unregistered zoos. They stated, "The natural adaptation training ground is literally a facility for bears to be released into the wild (in Jirisan), and daily care is impossible." They added, "The indoor enclosure areas are 4.5㎡ and 12.96㎡ respectively, falling far short of the 21㎡ standard for bear enclosures." Moreover, because the natural adaptation training ground also serves as a quarantine facility, it is a sealed space where air does not circulate between enclosures. Regarding the 'converted farm protection facilities,' they reported that these were places that had been operating as zoos without permits or registration, or farms that had been extracting gallbladders while running businesses like campgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement The private zoo in Gangneung, included in the year-end protection plan, also operates animal petting and feeding programs, making it unsuitable as a 'protection facility,' according to the group. The government plans to house 30 bears there and provide 420 million won in funding. The group argued, "Moving animals should be decided very carefully, considering the animals' perspective." They insisted, "If they are moved to a new location, the conditions must be significantly better than the current farm." "Otherwise, they will have to spend the rest of their lives adapting to a place that is not much better, and their quality of life may even decrease." In response, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment explained that the 'Implementation Plan for Expanding Bear Protection Facilities' is closer to an 'emergency protection measure.' A representative from the nature conservation division stated, "The natural adaptation training ground and private zoos are temporary protection facilities, not permanent ones." They added, "We plan to move them sequentially to better protection facilities as they become available." They also mentioned that while the bear enclosures have been built at the facility the government is constructing in Seocheon, repairs to electrical and mechanical equipment are underway due to flood damage last year. "It can be partially completed and ready for bear intake within the year," they said. Meanwhile, the 25 bears that the government announced would be "immediately admitted and protected" at the end of the grace period are still on the farms. The representative explained, "The plan at the time was to guide them to facilities capable of immediate admission, and they will be transferred as soon as the purchase negotiations between the farmers and civic groups are completed." Reporter Kim Ji-sook suoop@hani.co.kr | Src: Hankyoreh (KR) | 2026-07-08 12:00:00 +0000 UTC | ko | The government's transition of farms in Gyeonggi Province into 'bear protection facilities.' Provided by the Bear Habitat Project Advertisement A week after the nationwide ban on raising bears for gallbladders took effect, criticism has emerged that the government's bear protection plan lacks realism. It is pointed out that some facilities the government intends to use as bear protection centers are commercial zoos offering animal experiences and unregistered bear farms that are close to unlicensed zoos, thus failing to guarantee animal welfare. On the 8th, the bear farming protection group 'Bear Habitat Project' issued a statement titled 'Lee Jae-myung Government Should Prepare Proper Measures to End Bear Farming,' claiming that the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment is attempting to send farmed bears to substandard facilities. Previously, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced the 'Implementation Plan for Expanding Bear Protection Facilities (Roadmap)' on the 30th of last month, following the end of the grace period for the 'ban on bear farming.' The implementation plan includes the immediate admission of 25 out of 219 farmed bears and the transfer of 104 bears within the year. The 25 bears to be admitted immediately will be protected at the National Park Wildlife Rescue Center's natural adaptation training ground (9 bears), public zoos (5 bears), and converted farm protection facilities (8 bears). The remaining 104 bears are scheduled to be transferred to a public protection facility in Seocheon, Chungnam (64 bears), a private zoo in Gangneung, Gangwon (30 bears), and national park facilities (10 bears) within the year. In addition, for the 90 bears whose protection plans have not yet been finalized, the ministry plans to support their transfer to overseas sanctuaries promoted by the animal protection group 'Animal Freedom Coalition' in consultation with budget authorities for the construction of additional public and private facilities. Advertisement Advertisement The bear farming protection group pointed out that these government plans "cannot be considered bear protection." First, regarding the natural adaptation training ground, which the government has proposed as a facility for immediate admission, it does not meet the area requirements for Asiatic black bears, a globally endangered species. Furthermore, the farms being converted into 'bear protection facilities' are essentially unregistered zoos. They stated, "The natural adaptation training ground is literally a facility for bears to be released into the wild (in Jirisan), and daily care is impossible." They added, "The indoor enclosure areas are 4.5㎡ and 12.96㎡ respectively, falling far short of the 21㎡ standard for bear enclosures." Moreover, because the natural adaptation training ground also serves as a quarantine facility, it is a sealed space where air does not circulate between enclosures. Regarding the 'converted farm protection facilities,' they reported that these were places that had been operating as zoos without permits or registration, or farms that had been extracting gallbladders while running businesses like campgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement The private zoo in Gangneung, included in the year-end protection plan, also operates animal petting and feeding programs, making it unsuitable as a 'protection facility,' according to the group. The government plans to house 30 bears there and provide 420 million won in funding. The group argued, "Moving animals should be decided very carefully, considering the animals' perspective." They insisted, "If they are moved to a new location, the conditions must be significantly better than the current farm." "Otherwise, they will have to spend the rest of their lives adapting to a place that is not much better, and their quality of life may even decrease." In response, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment explained that the 'Implementation Plan for Expanding Bear Protection Facilities' is closer to an 'emergency protection measure.' A representative from the nature conservation division stated, "The natural adaptation training ground and private zoos are temporary protection facilities, not permanent ones." They added, "We plan to move them sequentially to better protection facilities as they become available." They also mentioned that while the bear enclosures have been built at the facility the government is constructing in Seocheon, repairs to electrical and mechanical equipment are underway due to flood damage last year. "It can be partially completed and ready for bear intake within the year," they said. Meanwhile, the 25 bears that the government announced would be "immediately admitted and protected" at the end of the grace period are still on the farms. The representative explained, "The plan at the time was to guide them to facilities capable of immediate admission, and they will be transferred as soon as the purchase negotiations between the farmers and civic groups are completed." Reporter Kim Ji-sook suoop@hani.co.kr | Src: Hankyoreh (KR)

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Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.