[News in Numbers] Is It Okay to Feed Pigeons?... 1 Million Won Fine Starting March Next Year

by Oh Jooyean

Published 24 Dec.2024 15:02(KST)

Starting from March next year, anyone caught feeding pigeons in Seoul's urban parks and Hangang Park will face a fine of up to 1 million KRW. Complaints related to wildlife droppings damaging cultural assets and corroding buildings have been consistently raised. However, due to the lack of legal grounds to address this issue, local governments have been unable to take practical measures. Last year, the amendment to the "Wildlife Protection and Management Act" was passed, opening a way to resolve local governments' concerns regarding wildlife management.

Pigeons fiercely compete over pieces of bread. After all, the world is an animal kingdom. Only the strong survive. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The amendment allows local government heads to prohibit feeding harmful wildlife through ordinances. The reason for the proposal explains that property damage occurs in residential areas due to wildlife damaging vehicles, road facilities, and buildings, and this is intended to prevent such damage. The amendment is set to take effect after December 20, 2024, one year after its promulgation. Following Seoul City's passage of the "Seoul City Ordinance on Prohibition of Feeding Harmful Wildlife" on the 20th, anyone caught feeding pigeons in designated "feeding prohibition zones" such as Seoul's urban parks, cultural heritage protection areas, and Hangang Park will be fined up to 1 million KRW.

Under current law, harmful wildlife includes sparrows, magpies, and crows that cause damage to crops or orchards by forming flocks over a long period, as well as species with excessively high population densities in certain areas such as pheasants, pigeons, water deer, wild boars, and Korean squirrels. In particular, pigeon droppings are highly acidic, damaging and corroding buildings and cultural assets. Additionally, being omnivorous, pigeons consume food waste, spreading germs and harming the city's aesthetics and residents' daily lives. According to Seoul City, complaints related to pigeons have increased from 667 cases in 2020 to 1,177 in 2021, 1,325 in 2022, and 1,432 in 2023. The complaints mainly concern walking inconvenience, hygienic damage from droppings and feathers, and disposal of pigeon carcasses.

As a result, not only in Korea but also overseas, fines are imposed for feeding pigeons. In Hong Kong, feeding wild pigeons can result in a fine of 5,000 HKD (approximately 850,000 KRW). This is based on the judgment that feeding pigeons reduces their survival ability and increases the risk of disease and parasite transmission. Countries such as Japan and the United Kingdom also impose fines for feeding pigeons.