Ten Farmed Bears Transferred to 'Bear Maru Shelter'... South Korea's First Public Sanctuary Opens

First Public Sanctuary for Farmed Bears Opens in South Korea
Securing Additional Shelter Space and Funding Remains an Urgent Challenge

After decades of being bred for bile extraction, ten bears have finally been admitted to a sanctuary where they will spend the rest of their lives. The Gurye Bear Maru Shelter, the nation’s first publicly operated sanctuary for farmed bears, has officially opened in Gurye County, Jeollanam-do and begun full-scale operations.

A bear residing at the Gurye Bear Maru Shelter in Gurye County, Jeollanam-do. Ministry of Environment

The Ministry of Environment announced on September 30 that it has begun caring for ten farmed bears purchased by a civic organization from bear farms at this facility, which was established in cooperation with Gurye County. This move marks the first such case prior to the full ban on bear farming and bile extraction and trade, which will take effect in January 2026 following the 2023 amendment to the Wildlife Protection and Management Act.

Located in Masan-myeon, near Jirisan National Park in Gurye County, the Maru Shelter covers a total area of 25,744 square meters and consists of three outdoor enclosures, two bear houses, and one quarantine building. The facility can accommodate up to 49 bears and is operated under commission by the Korea National Park Service.

The bears transferred this time were purchased from a farm in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, under the "Agreement to End Bear Farming" signed in 2022 by the Ministry of Environment, Gurye County, bear farmers, and civic groups. Although 12 bears were originally scheduled to be relocated, two died during anesthesia and transport, resulting in only ten being moved to the shelter. Among them are individuals with poor health, such as missing limbs or dental and vision impairments, who will receive treatment from specialized veterinarians.

Currently, there are about 240 farmed bears remaining in South Korea. Civic organizations plan to purchase and transfer these bears to sanctuaries in phases, but the combined capacity of the Gurye facility and another shelter under construction in Seocheon, South Chungcheong Province-totaling 119 bears-is insufficient. Securing additional space and funding for the remaining 120 or so bears is considered an urgent task.

At the opening ceremony held that day, Vice Minister of Environment Keum Hanseung stated, "The opening of the Gurye Bear Maru Shelter is the result of collaboration among the government, National Assembly, and civil society," adding, "The Ministry of Environment will continue to support projects to protect the remaining farmed bears and will make every effort to bring an end to bear farming."