Reduced to Props... Animal Exploitation in 2-3 Second Shots: The Current State of Korea [Dying Animals]

<Part 1> Stabbed, Neck Strained, Rolling on the Floor
Government Only Talks About 'Guide Production' After 'Kami' Incident
Underestimating Animal Abuse on Sets Could Lead to '3 Years in Prison'

Editor's Note"No animal should be killed or injured during the filming of movies or dramas."
This is common knowledge, but is it being upheld on our sets today? According to a recent survey conducted by Korea's largest animal protection organization, Animal Rights Action Kara (hereafter Kara), among 157 media workers, only half responded that animals rented or hired for filming were "returned to the company or owner" after shooting. The rest answered "sent for adoption" (22%), "unknown" (8%), "deceased" (3%), or "released into the wild" (1%). Additionally, about 60% said that "animals experience significant stress during filming." Although the global status of K-content has risen, animals continue to die on sets for just 2-3 seconds of footage.
This article aims to examine the current state of animal protection shortcomings on our sets and seek solutions through advanced Hollywood cases and expert opinions.

[Photo by Pixabay]

Despite improvements in personal and social awareness regarding animals, the reality on film and drama sets is that animals are treated as mere props and discarded. Cases of animals dying or being injured during filming are frequent, yet there are no legal sanctions or guidelines to prevent this.

Horses, soft-shelled turtles, piglets, sweetfish... Animals reduced to props

In January 2022, the production team of KBS1 drama Taejong Yi Bang-won forcibly threw down a horse named Kami by tying a wire to its front ankle to film a falling scene. The galloping horse collapsed to the ground and could not get up for some time, dying a week later. This incident brought long-standing problematic filming practices in the industry to light and raised public awareness about "animal protection on sets." The court fined KBS PD Kim, martial arts director Hong, and horse owner and drama equestrian team leader Lee 10 million KRW each for violating the Animal Protection Act. Public broadcaster KBS was also fined 5 million KRW.

Movie 'Pamyo' stills
[Photo by Showbox]

A scene from the movie 'Decision to Leave'
[Photo by Moho Film, CJ ENM]

The film Pawn, released in February this year and attracting 10 million viewers, was criticized for scenes including: repeatedly stabbing five pig carcasses used in a ritual; pigs frantically fleeing a pigsty; pigs being brutally attacked and killed; live sweetfish left on the ground as bait; a dog (Baekgu) tied with a 1-meter leash at a temple; and threatening chickens with a knife. Criticism arose that various animals such as pigs, chickens, dogs, and sweetfish were reduced to mere props. Kara inquired whether the animals were safely filmed, but director Jang Jae-hyun and production company Showbox have not responded for nearly a month.

In the 75th Cannes Film Festival Best Director winner Decision to Leave (2022, directed by Park Chan-wook), the protagonist Hae-joon (played by Park Hae-il) receives a report that 58 soft-shelled turtles were stolen. The thief’s motorcycle fell, spilling the turtles into a rice paddy. While kicking and gathering the turtles into a sack, he is bitten on the finger. Actual turtles were used in the scene where they are kicked and roll around, and three turtles died after filming. It was confirmed that a farm owner, not a veterinarian or expert, was assigned on set.

In the tvN drama Marry My Husband, a kitten estimated to be one month old was used for filming. The kitten appeared to have just been rescued from the street and was in poor health. Moreover, the production filmed a scene feeding the kitten adult cat food, which sparked controversy. The OTT platform TVING’s drama Rose Mansion (2022) was criticized for depicting a street cat being cruelly killed by a man, vividly portraying the killing act and sounds, which was deemed inappropriate.

Government’s ‘Animal Filming Guidelines’?Just Words?

Veteran film director Im Soon-rye and Kara created a 130-page document in 2020 titled Animal Appearance Media Guidelines: No Animals Were Harmed. It contains the minimum requirements for the safety and rights of animals in media. It is the only domestic guideline specifying the most basic demands to prevent animals from being injured or killed during filming.

Kara established the Animal Appearance Media Monitoring Headquarters (hereafter Monitoring HQ) to receive online reports from viewers and audiences. The Monitoring HQ stated, "Initially, some anonymous staff from sets reported cases. We were shocked by the serious incidents. We currently collect questions, get responses from production companies, and publish them online."

Above all, it is crucial for the government to create and announce guidelines to protect animals on sets, but so far, only promises have been made without realization. Following public outrage over the "Kami" incident in 2022, the government promised to prepare guidelines including basic principles and compliance requirements. At that time, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced plans to enhance protection and welfare measures for animals appearing in films, dramas, advertisements, and other media productions. However, no separate improvement plans or legislation have been implemented to date.

Jo Hyun-jung, policy planning team leader at Kara, told Asia Economy, "Kara will strive to legislate the activation of CG for animal filming and the enforcement of specific guidelines in the new National Assembly." She added, "A second or third Kami can appear anytime. Everyone should maintain continuous interest and raise their voices to prevent animals from being unfairly exploited on sets." Lawyer Han Joo-hyun of the law firm Jeongjin emphasized, "Specific laws tailored to filming sites are necessary. Before amending related laws, self-regulation efforts by related associations and directors’ groups producing videos are also needed."

Animal protection organizations including the Korea Animal Protection Alliance held a press conference condemning animal abuse in the drama "Taejong Yi Bang-won" in front of the KBS main building in Yeouido in January 2022.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the Animal Protection Act, anyone who causes injury to animals for gambling, advertising, entertainment, or amusement purposes may face imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW. Causing an animal’s death can result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

Lawyer Han stated, "Anyone who commits animal abuse on set can be punished for violating the Animal Protection Act. Causing death by cruel methods or killing animals without legal justification all constitute animal abuse."

Except for cases like Taejong Yi Bang-won, where video evidence exists, whistleblowers are necessary for animal abuse occurring inside sets. If you witness animal abuse on set, you can report it to the police, online complaint centers, or animal protection organizations, but without evidence, reports may be dismissed. Kara advises, "Direct or indirect evidence is essential for on-site verification and investigation. Take videos or photos to preserve evidence. Recording abnormal animal cries or collecting vomit containing poisons, as well as props used in abuse, can also be useful."