In the Korean peninsula,
human’s relationship with bears has radically changed since the late 20 century.
While bears in the wild were poached, killed, and became extinct,
other bears were imported from abroad into bear farms and raised for their bile extraction.
Although the species is an internationally endangered animal,
farmed bears were the most marginalised animals in national laws,
neither wild animals nor farm animals.
Still, there are 360 farmed bears in South Korea (Jan. 2022).
In the Korean peninsula, human’s relationship with bears has radically changed since the late 20 century.
While bears in the wild were poached, killed, and became extinct,
other bears were imported from abroad into bear farms and raised for their bile extraction.
Although the species is an internationally endangered animal,
farmed bears were the most marginalised animals in national laws, neither wild animals nor farm animals.
Still, there are 360 farmed bears in South Korea (Jan. 2022).
The 1970s
The importation of wild animals, including bears, significantly increased.
Trafficking of Asiatic black bears was booming, and trade in bears for their bile became already full-blown in the late 1970s.
1972 – It was reported that a farmer imported 40 bear cubs from Japan.
The 1980s
Gaps in legislation and weak law enforcement gave rise to the increasing number of farmed bears and the bear farming industry.
1981 – The government promoted bear farming.
1982 – The Asiatic black bear was officially designated as a natural monument.
1983 – Revised wildlife laws prohibited the importation of bears for medicinal purposes, whereas its import for research purposes was still allowed.
1983 – The last Asiatic black bear in the wild in Korea was killed by poachers. The government held a public auction for the last wild bear's bile.
The 1990s
The number of farmed bears considerably increased with the consumers’ insatiable demand for bear bile.
1991 – A technique to extract bile from live bears was famous and this practice was not regulated by the law.
1993 – South Korea became a signatory to CITES in 1993. The importation of bear bile for commercial purposes was on probation for three years.
1996 – Bear bile importation for commercial purposes was prohibited. Imports for research purposes were still available.
1998 – Asiatic black bear was designated as an endangered animal, but the designation excluded imported bears.
1999 – Slaughtering aged bear over 24 years was legalised.
The 2000s
Animal-right civil societies and organisations started to make a voice to oppose the bear farming industry.
2003 – An environmental organisation, Green Korea, launched a campaign to abolish the bear farming industry.
2005 – The Ministry of Environment set out guidelines for bear farming.
The 2010s
The bear farming industry started declining.
2010 – The Special Act for the management of farmed bears was proposed.
2012 – The Ministry of Environment reported bears farming situations and management status in the farms.
2013 – A consultative committee consisting of bear farmers, civil societies, and legal and wildlife experts was formed.
2013 – The Special Act for the management of farmed bears was proposed.
2014 – A plan to purchase and manage remaining farmed bears by the Ministry of Environment was scrapped.
2017 – Instead, the government neutered all farmed bears
The 2020s
The government worked on a bear sanctuary establishment plan.
2020 - The government passed the budgets for the bear sanctuary in Gurye.
2021 – A blueprint for the Gurye sanctuary was produced. The government passed the budgets for another bear sanctuary in Seocheon.
