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The Busan Metropolitan City to Host the 1st “Animal Protection Day” Event

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The Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it has been selected to host the inaugural “Animal Protection Day” event organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) to celebrate the newly designated national observance, Animal Protection Day (October 4).

○ This government-led event, established following the revision of the Animal Protection Act, will be the first of its kind. In January this year, Busan, Jeju City, and Gyeongju submitted bids to host the event.

○ MAFRA selected Busan as the final host city, recognizing its symbolic significance, geographic accessibility, and high level of interest in animal welfare.

The event will be held in late September at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 2 and will feature a wide array of exhibitions and interactive programs.

○ With a total budget of 650 million KRW (500 million in national funding and 150 million from the city), the event will be a large-scale gathering for pet owners and their animals.

Since the establishment of the Pet Animal Division on March 5 through an organizational restructuring, the city has been actively developing and implementing policies to promote a pet-friendly culture.

○ These include ▲ the development of pet culture parks and playgrounds ▲ support for pet behavior correction and etiquette (petiquette) education ▲ improvements in stray animal protection systems — all aimed at making Busan a city where people and animals can live together in harmony.

Ahn Cheol-soo, Director of the Green City Bureau, stated, “We will do our utmost to ensure that this event serves as a stepping stone toward making Busan a leading city for animal protection and a truly pet-friendly city.”

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Appendix: Event Overview

• ●Background: The event is being held in response to the designation of “Animal Protection Day” (effective January 2025) through amendments to the Animal Protection Act, to encourage public participation.

• ●Budget / Date / Venue: 650 million KRW (500 million national, 150 million city) / Late September 2025 / BEXCO Exhibition Hall 2

• ●Organizers: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Busan Metropolitan City

• ●Main Themes: Enhancing awareness of animal welfare (policy promotion, increasing adoption rates, fostering a mature pet culture)

• ○Keynote Speeches / Ceremonies: Talks by animal welfare experts, opening ceremony

• ○Pet Education / Festivals: Petiquette talk shows, animal-friendly programs, tourism-linked festivals

• ○Industry Support: Booths for pet food, pet healthcare, pet-tech, and other emerging pet industries

Progress to Date:

• ●Jan 14, 2025: Busan submitted co-hosting request to MAFRA

• ○Busan, Jeju, and Gyeongju were the three competing cities

• ●Mar 17, 2025: City officials visited MAFRA to advocate for Busan and request national funding

• ●Mar 21, 2025: Site visit to BEXCO for venue arrangement

• ●Apr 30, 2025: Busan confirmed as official host of the “Animal Protection Day” festival

Next Steps:

• ●May–August 2025: Select contractors and prepare for the event

• ●September–October 2025: Finalize detailed plans, promote the event, and hold the festival

Key Features: Keynote speeches / Industry exhibitions / Cultural programs