Target: Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Republic of Korea
Goal: End bullfighting for gambling and entertainment and place fighting bulls under full animal protection laws.
Bullfighting in Cheongdo has come under renewed scrutiny as allegations of animal abuse and exploitation continue to surround the practice. The events, held year-round and promoted as tradition, involve bulls being pitted against one another in repeated bouts for public entertainment and gambling. Despite their commercial success, critics say the fights cause needless suffering to animals for profit.
Animal welfare advocates and political groups have long alleged that injured or disabled bulls are forced to compete and that painkillers or stimulants are used to mask injuries. While current law exempts bullfighting from general animal cruelty statutes, the practice has increasingly been described as incompatible with modern animal welfare standards. The deaths, injuries, stress, and prolonged confinement of fighting bulls remain central concerns.
Although the government has announced reviews and tighter oversight, bulls continue to be used in more than a thousand matches each season. This petition calls for decisive reform: ending bullfighting for gambling and entertainment, repealing legal exemptions, and extending full protection under the Animal Protection Act to prevent further suffering.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Song,
We are writing to express deep concern over the continued operation of bullfighting in Cheongdo amid persistent allegations of animal abuse. Despite its framing as cultural tradition, the practice involves forcing bulls into repeated physical combat for gambling and profit, often resulting in injury, distress, and long-term harm.
Animal welfare groups and political leaders have raised serious concerns that injured or disabled bulls are allegedly made to fight and that drugs may be used to conceal their suffering. While oversight reviews are welcome, the continued exemption of bullfighting from animal protection laws allows harm to persist while reforms remain uncertain.
We respectfully urge your ministry to take decisive action by ending bullfighting for entertainment and gambling, repealing the legal exemption under the Traditional Bullfighting Match Act, and placing all fighting bulls under the Animal Protection Act. Protecting animals from needless suffering must take priority over profit and outdated practices.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Caroline Knox
