[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Lee Hakyoung: "You Said It Was for 'Educational Purposes'... 7 in 10 Private Zoos Still Offer Animal Interaction Activities"

Feeding and touching activities allowed as exceptions upon submission of education plans
Problems, including failure to follow plans and lack of registration, found at 78% of facilities surveyed
Capybaras with hair loss and fennec foxes biting their

Although a law banning feeding and touching activities that cause animals unnecessary stress and suffering has taken effect, many privately run zoos are still operating animal encounter programs by invoking an “educational purpose” exemption, a report has found. Cases have also emerged in which capybaras and fennec foxes with health problems were used in these activities, prompting calls for improvements to the system.

Two capybaras that showed signs of hair loss across their bodies in January this year are still on display a month later, with skin abnormalities remaining. Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA)

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment to Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Hak-young, a member of the National Assembly’s Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, 70 of the country’s 91 privately run zoos (76.9%) had submitted educational plans using animals in their care and were operating encounter programs as of September.

An amendment to the Zoo and Aquarium Act, which took effect in December 2023, prohibited activities such as feeding and touching that can cause animals unnecessary stress and suffering. However, critics say the law’s intent is being undermined because the enforcement decree allows such activities as an exception when an educational plan has been submitted.

Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA) investigated 23 private animal exhibition facilities from January to September this year and found that, at 16 of them, the activities actually offered differed from those described in the submitted educational plans. Problems were found at 78% of the facilities surveyed when those that had not submitted educational plans or were operating encounter programs without registering as zoos were also included.

Some facilities did not adhere to the activity times specified in their plans. In other cases, visitors were allowed to touch animals freely without staff supervision.

There were also cases in which animals with health problems were used in these activities. Two capybaras that showed signs of hair loss across their bodies in January were still interacting with visitors a month later, with skin abnormalities remaining. A fennec fox suspected of having a leg condition was displayed at a feeding experience area while repeatedly biting the affected area.

A fennec fox suspected of having a leg condition is on display at a feeding experience area, repeatedly biting the affected area. Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA)

KARA said using animals in encounter activities when the causes of their illnesses and the possibility of infection have not been established raises concerns not only for animal welfare but also for public health, including the spread of disease.

Cho Hee-kyung, head of KARA, said, “Even when we report violations and request administrative action, authorities often stop at issuing warnings. Regular inspections and meaningful measures based on the nature of each violation are needed to ensure that submitting a perfunctory plan alone is not enough to permit these activities.”

The same issue was raised at a forum jointly hosted in March by Lee, the National Assembly Animal Welfare Forum, and Animal Welfare Awareness, Research and Education (AWARE). AWARE’s survey at the time found that 20 of 21 zoos sold food for animal encounters, and 15 of those 20 did not limit the amount of food visitors could give or the number of purchases they could make.

Lee said, “Although the law prohibits animal encounter activities, the broad application in practice of the enforcement decree’s ‘educational purpose’ exemption means the law’s intent is not being properly implemented on the ground. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment should review the exemption criteria and strengthen on-site inspections and penalties.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.