A Herd of Deer Appears in Suncheon Apartment Park... "Eyes Are Delighted but How to Handle the Danger"

Both Deer and Nearby Residents Face Danger
Local Governments Struggle to Respond Due to Relevant Laws

Herds of deer have been repeatedly appearing throughout downtown Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, raising growing concerns about citizen safety. On the 1st, a post titled "Recent Situation at an Apartment Complex in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do" was uploaded to an online community. The post included photos and videos showing three or four deer wandering inside the complex near a sign labeled "No Smoking Park."

On the 1st, a post titled "Recent Status of an Apartment Complex in Suncheon, Jeonnam" was uploaded on an online community. Online community

The sika deer near Bonghwasan Mountain in Suncheon originated from a few that escaped from a deer farm in Jorye-dong 15 to 20 years ago and have since rapidly increased in number. Especially since last year, the deer population has surged, expanding their habitat to nearby vegetable gardens, roads, and even apartment complexes. The area around Bonghwasan, including Jorye-dong and Yongdang-dong, has large apartment complexes and major roads, raising concerns about potential roadkill and even human casualties. Netizens who saw the photos and videos responded with comments such as, "Have you forgotten the sika deer incident in Suwon and Gwanggyo?", "Animals larger than large dogs roaming without leashes?", "It's terrifying to think children might encounter a herd of deer on their way home from school," "Residents near the apartments should be cautious of possible accidents," and "This situation is dangerous for both deer and people."

Capture and culling difficult under related laws... Local governments also struggling

Earlier, the sika deer near Bonghwasan in Suncheon rapidly increased in number after a few escaped from the Jorye-dong deer farm 15 to 20 years ago and began living in this area. Online community

Previously, around November last year, in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, a deer attacked two citizens, causing serious injuries. In addition, deer have been spotted in places like Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, and Gunsan, Jeonbuk, increasing public anxiety. In Suncheon, in April 2023, during early morning hours, a deer caused a disturbance near an apartment complex by Bonghwasan Mountain, injuring firefighters who responded with wounds to their shoulders, knees, and faces, and damaging nearby vehicles. The sika deer’s mating season runs from October to January of the following year, and if threatened during this period, they may become aggressive. Animal organization officials explained that due to their nature, deer may attack instinctively if they feel their survival is threatened.

The problem is that under relevant laws, deer are classified as livestock rather than wild animals, making capture or culling virtually impossible unless they cause serious agricultural damage. Even when complaints about deer are received, there are no clear measures other than rescuing and releasing them back into the wild. The local government of Suncheon, which has jurisdiction, is considering various measures such as feeding control, fence installation, and neutering surgeries, but it is difficult to fundamentally prevent reproduction itself. They are continuing consultations with the Ministry of Environment and animal organizations. A Suncheon city official stated, "We are holding meetings with the responsible departments to assess the population and develop management plans," adding, "We will closely cooperate with the Ministry of Environment and devise countermeasures to prepare for any possible accidents."