South Korea to end bear bile farming, 200 bears remain in cages

South Korea has confirmed the end of bear bile farming under a new animal welfare policy.

The ban took effect on 1 January 2026. The government said that there’s a six-month transition period for farmers to comply with the new rules.

From that date, it will be illegal to breed bears, keep bears for bile, or extract bile from them.

The decision follows years of criticism from animal welfare groups and the public. South Korea is one of the few countries that still allows bear bile farming. This mainly involves Asiatic black bears, also known as moon bears.

Bear bile farming

Bear bile farming is a practice in which bears are kept in small metal cages so their bile can be extracted from their gallbladders. The bile is removed repeatedly using tubes or needles, a process that can cause severe pain, infections and long-term suffering.

Many bears spend their entire lives in captivity and are later killed for their body parts. The bile is used in some forms of traditional medicine.

What the new law changes

The ban is part of a wider agreement reached in 2022 between the government, bear farmers and animal welfare groups. Under a revised animal protection law, people who break the rules could face prison sentences of up to two to five years.

Farmers will have a six-month grace period after the ban starts. During this time, the government says it will help cover the cost of caring for bears until they are sold and moved to approved facilities.

Hundreds of bears still trapped

Even with the ban, around 200 bears are still living in cages at 11 farms across the country. Officials say 21 bears were bought and moved to a government-run sanctuary in South Jeolla Province last year. However, progress has been slow because of disagreements over compensation for farmers.

The main government sanctuary can hold up to 49 bears, but animal welfare groups say fewer animals should be kept there to ensure proper care. Plans for a second government facility were delayed after flooding.

Because of the lack of space, activists are also talking with foreign zoos about taking in some rescued bears.

A declining industry with a painful past

Bear farming began in South Korea in the early 1980s, when bears were imported from Southeast Asia. For decades, bears were kept in small metal cages for most of their lives.

In 2014, about 1,000 bears were still held on farms. Since then, the number has dropped as some bears died, some were killed, and others were sterilised under government programs.

Praise and concern from animal groups

Animal welfare organisations have welcomed the decision to end the industry, but warn that ending farming is not the same as rescuing all bears.

Groups such as the Korea Animal Welfare Association and Humane World for Animals Korea say the government must act faster to move the remaining bears out of cages and support larger sanctuaries, including private ones.

They stress that without enough safe places, many bears will continue to suffer even after the ban takes effect.

South Korea’s move is seen as an important step toward better protection for wild animals. But for the bears still waiting in pens, animal groups say real change will only come when every last bear is free from captivity.