Abandoned Cow at Deoksugung, Red Sea Bream Thrown in Yeouido... Innocent Animals Dragged into Protests [Hello? Animal]

Animals Repeatedly Mobilized for 'Protest Performances'
Cow Abandoned at 'Quarantine Pass' Protest, Red Sea Bream Thrown at 'Japanese Live Fish Import' Protest
Animal Rights Group: "Clear Animal Abuse... 'Mental Suffering' Must Also Be Included in Abuse Scope"

The owner of two cows, who attempted to bring them to a rally held in downtown Seoul on the 11th but was stopped by the police, is under police investigation after leaving the cows on the Deoksugung Stone Wall Road and leaving. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Recently, two cows that were dragged out to a rally in downtown Seoul and abandoned in front of Deoksugung Palace have sparked controversy. Animal protection groups point out that using animals as 'performance props' in protests against government policies constitutes animal abuse.

On the 11th, a man in his 60s, Mr. A, residing in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, brought two cows to a rally opposing the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass) held in Insadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. When the police, fearing an unexpected incident, stopped him, Mr. A abandoned the cows on the stone wall path of Deoksugung Palace around 5 p.m. and left.

The abandoned cows reportedly spent the night in front of the stone wall path of Deoksugung Palace, wrapped in large banners bearing slogans such as "Surge in deaths after vaccination" and "Complete withdrawal of COVID-19 vaccination."

Kim Young-hwan, head of the animal rights organization 'CARE,' who cared for the cows, said, "The cows were extremely hungry. After receiving a tip, I went to the scene and gave them straw and water. The cows ate endlessly as if wondering, 'Is it okay to eat this much?' They drank ten 2L bottles of water and kept eating straw," and added, "It seems they had not eaten all day since leaving Suwon City."

He continued, "The cows must have been very startled by urban noises such as car horns and lights," and speculated, "Especially since their environment suddenly changed, they must have experienced significant mental stress."

On the 13th, the Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul announced that Mr. A, the owner of the cows, is under preliminary investigation for violating the Animal Protection Act.

Around 9:30 PM on the 11th, the animal rights organization "CARE" arrived after receiving a citizen's report and took care of two cows. The cows were draped with large banners bearing phrases such as "Sharp Increase in Deaths After Vaccination" and "Complete Withdrawal of COVID-19 Vaccination." Photo by CARE Facebook capture

This is not the first case. Last year, a group protesting the massive import of live fish from Japan also caused controversy by throwing live fish.

The Gyeongnam Fishery Aquaculture Association claimed on November 27 last year in front of the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, that the large import of live fish from Japan severely damaged domestic fishermen and urged the government to take countermeasures. During the protest, they threw live fish and handed out packaged domestic live fish to passersby.

In response, the animal rights group 'Animal Liberation Wave' accused them of animal abuse in December last year, stating that the live fish were used as protest tools without the intention of consumption.

On December 2 last year, they released a statement saying, "(The association) cried out that 'aquaculture fishermen are dying' due to the easing of live fish imports from Japan and decreased consumption caused by COVID-19, but who actually died? Regardless of the country of origin, amberjack and red seabream were born to be eaten by humans and exploited for food throughout their lives," criticizing the association.

The Gyeongnam Fishery Aquaculture Association held a protest on November 27 last year in front of the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, opposing the import of live fish from Japan, throwing live fish during the demonstration. Photo by Mirae Susan TV

Animal rights groups unanimously agree that using animals unrelated to protests in this way is clear animal abuse.

Kim Young-hwan, head of CARE, said, "(In the case of the cows abandoned at Deoksugung) it is clear animal abuse according to our moral intuition. However, the scope of abuse under South Korea's Animal Protection Act is quite narrow," and pointed out, "(To be defined as abuse, the animal) must have wounds and feel physical pain. But physical and mental pain come together, and it is very ironic that mental stress is not included in the definition of abuse."

Lee Ji-yeon, head of Animal Liberation Wave, also pointed out, "Using animals as performance props to express human political demands is animal abuse," and evaluated, "The live fish protest incident conveyed the implication to our society that 'fish can also feel pain.' This is scientifically clear, and it seems to have become a turning point in raising awareness of this fact through the live fish protest incident."

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