As controversies surrounding animal abuse persist over bull wrestling competitions (bullfights), North Chungcheong Province's Boeun-gun is holding the "17th Boeun National Folk Bull Wrestling Competition" from the 16th to the 20th of this month.

Boeun-gun and the Boeun branch of the Korea Folk Bull Wrestling Association announced on the 6th that they will hold the event at the Bocheongcheon Riverside Stadium during the "2026 Boeun Jujube Festival."

Bull wrestling competitions can only be held by 11 local governments nationwide in accordance with the notification of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, with Boeun-gun being the only one in the Chungcheong region.

Boeun-gun has held the event every year since its first competition in 2007, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic period. This is based on the judgment that it is highly effective in attracting tourists every year and contributes to promoting the local Hanwoo brand, "Songnisan Hanwoo."

However, animal protection organizations and others define this event as animal abuse and are urging for its suspension.

The "National Action for the Abolition of Animal Abuse Bullfights," composed of the Green Party and animal protection organizations, recently demanded the prompt handling of the bullfighting abolition bill to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Assembly, while continuing activities to urge the cancellation of the competition.

An official from the organization said, "Out of the 11 designated regions, Jeongju-si, Wanju-si, Gimhae-si, Hamyang-si, Dalseong-gun, and Cheongdo-gun have not allocated budgets for events this year, showing a trend where bullfighting is gradually being suspended," adding, "We plan to hold a protest picketing at the venue against Boeun-gun's budget support and forced holding of the competition."

Boeun-gun is providing 220 million won in support for this competition this year.

A county official explained, "We are well aware of the claims made by animal protection groups, but we must also consider aspects such as the succession of traditional culture and economic revitalization," adding, "This year, we will have veterinarians present to immediately stop the match if a bull is injured, and strictly restrict acts such as sharpening the horns."

Meanwhile, livestock organizations in the Boeun region held a press conference in December of last year, claiming, "Bull wrestling is a heritage of agricultural culture handed down from ancestors, and continued holding is necessary in terms of revitalizing the local economy and succeeding traditional culture."

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