Increasingly Severe Stray Cat Hatred... Now Even 'Cat Mom Hatred' [Hello? Animal]

Abuser Sets Stray Cat on Fire... Mocking, "I'll Burn More 'Teolbaki'"
Animal Group Reports Threatening Cat Mom with Murder... "Evidence of Stray Cat Killing"
Expert: "Animal Abuse Is a Serious Social Crime"

Recently, hate crimes against stray cats have been occurring repeatedly, becoming a social issue. Photo by Pixabay.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Recently, hate crimes targeting stray cats have been continuing, becoming a social issue. In some online communities, stray cats are disparagingly called 'Teolbakwi' (a portmanteau of 'teol' meaning fur and 'bakwi' meaning cockroach), and videos of abuse such as burning cats alive have been posted, drawing fierce criticism. In particular, this hateful sentiment sometimes extends to so-called 'Catmoms' and 'Catdaddies' who feed stray cats, requiring caution. Experts emphasize that a zero-tolerance policy should be applied to animal abusers and they must be punished.

Recently, a video showing a stray cat locked in an iron cage and burned alive has spread mainly online, causing an uproar. An anonymous poster, Mr. A, uploaded the cat abuse video twice on the 'Yaongi Gallery' board of DC Inside on the 28th of last month. The video showed a gray-brown cat trapped in an iron cage writhing as its whole body was on fire.

Gallery users mocked the cat by calling it 'Tadaki.' It is known that the cat escaped, but its survival status has not yet been confirmed.

Later, Mr. A, who revealed himself as the person who posted the cat abuse videos, said, "I will catch and burn more 'Teolbakwi'." 'Teolbakwi' means 'furred cockroach' and is a term created in that gallery and others to disparage cats.

Relatedly, posts urging strict investigation into stray cat abuse were uploaded on the Blue House's National Petition board. In response, Mr. A said, "My life goal has been set. I will catch as many Teolbakwi as the number of agreements on the petition site, tag them with numbers, and definitely burn them. Please look forward to it."

This is not the first cat abuse case through DC Inside. Last year, an abuse incident occurred in the 'Stray Cat Story' gallery of this community. In July last year, 250,559 people agreed to a Blue House petition demanding the closure of that gallery, and it was shut down. However, animal abusers moved to new communities and continued abusing stray cats.

A cat trapped in an iron frame being set on fire. Photo by Online Community Screenshot.

Among these, hateful feelings toward stray cats have also been directed at Catmoms and Catdaddies. A 'Catmom' refers to a person who feeds or voluntarily protects ownerless stray cats. Males are called 'Catdaddies.' Some people who had conflicts with Catmoms verbally abused them and even assaulted them.

On the 30th of last month, the animal rights protection organization 'KARA' filed a complaint with the police, asking for the punishment of a person who threatened to kill a Catmom.

According to KARA, an unidentified perpetrator first sent a threatening letter to Catmom B in August last year, then sent several letters containing evidence of stray cat abuse and death threats.

KARA explained, "(The perpetrator) called stray cats 'thief cats' and claimed they are harmful animals that should be eliminated," adding, "In the letters, there were statements like 'I put vinegar and insecticide in the thief cats' food' and 'I killed three of them.'"

Additionally, the perpetrator threatened B with death, saying things like "If you file a complaint about animal abuse, I won't let you be," "I will stab you in the neck," and "I have already purchased a weapon."

There was also an incident of assault against a Catmom. Last year, KARA accused a man, Mr. C, of throwing a cat shelter where kittens were and assaulting a woman in her twenties who was caring for the cats.

In June last year, Mr. C threw the cat shelter located in a communal green area near a subway station in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, claiming he wanted to remove the stray cat feeding station. He was also charged with throwing a plastic container at the victim, who was a member of the local animal protection civic group 'Jungnang-gu Stray Cat Friends.'

However, Mr. C claimed, "It is true that I threw the object, but I had no intention to assault," and "The repair cost for my imported car was hundreds of thousands of won due to cat scratches."

Experts emphasized understanding and consideration for the lives of stray cats and other living beings. Lee Wonbok, head of the Korea Animal Protection Union, pointed out, "Crimes against stray cats are increasing. Although our country has rapidly developed economically, awareness of how to view other lives is still at a low level, so these crimes do not stop."

He added, "It is necessary to recognize that animal abuse is a serious social crime," and "If stray cats are abused and killed in cruel and horrific ways, they must be strongly punished according to a zero-tolerance principle."