Cheonan City Council Resumes Full-Scale Discussion on Stray Cat Ordinance

Citizen Forum Held on the 5th... City Councilor Bok Ayoung Says "Aiming for Resubmission Next Month"

Cheonan City Council held a "Cheonan City Stray Cat Protection and Management Citizen Forum" jointly organized by Councilors Bok Ayoung, Kim Gilja, and Bae Seongmin on the 5th at the Cheonan City Hall main conference room.

Re-discussion of the 'Stray Cat Ordinance' by the Cheonan City Council, which was put on hold last year after controversy, has begun.

On the 5th, the Cheonan City Council held a 'Citywide Forum on the Protection and Management of Stray Cats in Cheonan' at the main conference room of Cheonan City Hall, co-hosted by council members Bok Ayoung, Kim Kilja, and Bae Sungmin.

This forum began with a keynote presentation by council member Bok Ayoung on the topic, 'Measures for Enacting an Ordinance on the Protection and Management for the Coexistence of Stray Cats in Cheonan,' discussing the purpose and necessity of the ordinance. Professor Jang Dongho of Namseoul University served as the moderator.

As the ordinance failed to pass the standing committee last year due to a sharp divide in opinions, both sides?supporters and opponents?presented strong arguments at the forum.

Yoon Sujin, a resident of Cheongsu-dong, expressed support, saying, "The stray cat protection ordinance will establish an environment where humans and animals can coexist, and will serve as a local regulation to protect the lives and safety of stray cats through neutering surgeries and the installation of feeding stations."

On the other hand, Kim Sunhye, a resident of Anseo-dong, argued, "In advanced countries, people do not feed ownerless animals on the streets, and if they do, they are fined," adding, "A citizen vote or public opinion survey should be conducted regarding the ordinance."

Council member Bok Ayoung stated, "Since the stray cat issue, which has long been a subject of debate, is being attempted as the nation's first individual ordinance, it is natural that there is much interest and concern," adding, "Through this forum, we were able to hear the positions of supporters, opponents, and those in the middle."

She continued, "Since the ordinance was created to mediate social conflicts caused by stray cats, I will listen more to the opinions of those who oppose it, revise it, and resubmit it in November."