Target: Minister Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea
Goal: End state-authorized bullfighting that forces bulls into horn-to-horn combat for gambling and spectacle, enact a nationwide ban with penalties, and bar public funds for such events.
From opening bouts to finals, bulls are pushed into head-on clashes while crowds cheer and legal wagering rolls. Tournaments are marketed as “folk games” with large purses, weekly cards, and official venues that keep the horn-to-horn contests going. Even where organizers claim injuries are rare, critics allegedly document distress, prolonged pushing matches, and exhaustion presented as entertainment.
Local governments are split. Several municipalities have canceled events amid public outcry, while others reinstated funding and pressed ahead. Advocates say the format itself creates suffering, since animals are pitted against each other for extended bouts, jabbed by horns, and stressed by transport, bright lights, and noise. Opponents also warn that legal betting wrapped around a cultural label normalizes cruelty and draws more bulls into a system built on pain.
A modern nation does not need staged animal fights to celebrate culture. Humane festivals can thrive without forcing animals into combat. National leadership can end this cycle by revoking authorizations, prohibiting public sponsorship, and pursuing legislation that outlaws bull-on-bull contests. This petition calls for a nationwide ban on bullfighting, firm penalties for organizers and promoters, and immediate guidance to local bodies to halt planned cards.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Song,
We respectfully urge the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea to end state-authorized bullfighting that compels bulls into horn-to-horn combat under lights, crowds, and legal betting. Tournaments are framed as “folk games,” yet critics have allegedly documented distress, prolonged bouts, and exhaustion presented as entertainment.
While some municipalities have canceled events after public complaints, others reinstated funds and proceeded, which signals mixed policy and continued risk for animals. The spectacle—however branded—relies on contests that cause fear, stress, and avoidable harm, with gambling incentives pulling more animals into repeated matches.
We ask your office to issue immediate guidance urging a halt to scheduled events, revoke authorizations that enable these contests, and advance national legislation that bans bull-on-bull fighting, imposes meaningful penalties on organizers and promoters, and blocks public money from supporting such shows. A clear, humane standard will protect animals, align practice with modern welfare expectations, and demonstrate national leadership that honors culture without cruelty.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: hojusaram
