"Bring Fubao" Petition Floods... Seoul City "Will Not Proceed"

Mayor Oh and Chairman Jeong meet, discuss Panda rental purpose
"PubaO rental" voices... call it "a kind of well-wishing"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon mentioned the giant panda during a meeting with Tian Xiangli, Chairman of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which led to public inquiries about whether the giant panda Puba, returned to China, could be brought back. However, Seoul City clarified that it is not pursuing any related procedures.

The giant panda 'Fubao,' returned to China last April, was unveiled to the public on the 12th at the Sichuan Panda Base after about two months. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, Seoul City stated on the citizen proposal platform 'Sangsangdaero Seoul' that "During the meeting between the Seoul Mayor and the Sichuan CPPCC Chairman, there was discussion about ways to soothe the public’s disappointment over Puba’s absence," but emphasized that "the panda lease is not being pursued." Since panda leasing is under the authority of the Chinese central government and requires strict procedures, no steps are being taken to lease a panda. A Seoul city official said, "Mayor Oh spoke about how popular Puba was in Korea during the meeting," adding, "It was a kind of goodwill remark."

Earlier, on the 15th, Mayor Oh mentioned the Chinese panda during his meeting with the Sichuan CPPCC Chairman. Mayor Oh expressed hope that something could fill the public’s empty and hollow feelings, indicating a desire to lease another panda, not necessarily Puba.

As a result, various opinions emerged on online communities, including calls to lease Puba specifically rather than another panda, arguments to stop the practice of leasing animals altogether, and suggestions to establish agreements that would allow pandas born or settled in Korea not to be returned to China.

Within China, there was a positive attitude toward promoting bilateral friendship and mutual benefits through pandas, while repeatedly emphasizing that pandas should not be used for political purposes.

Meanwhile, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo officially requested Ambassador Xing Haiming of China to lease pandas for Daegu Grand Park, scheduled for completion in 2027, during a meeting in May.