□ In the future, deer that cause damage to agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, or disrupt residents' lives due to excessively high population density, are expected to be designated as a harmful wild animal. In addition, institutional improvements such as establishing penalties for those who abandon livestock will also be promoted.

□ This is the result of active follow-up measures taken by the Ministry of Environment (ME, Minister Kim Wansup) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA, Minister Song Miryung) after the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) recommended institutional improvements for the handling of abandoned livestock in January 2024.

< Key Points of the ACRC’s Recommendation for Institutional Improvement (Measures for Handling Abandoned Livestock) >

□ The sika deer is an introduced species imported from Taiwan and Japan after the 1950s for economic purposes such as livestock farming and for exhibition. In cases such as Anmado Island*, some of the imported sika deer were abandoned by their owners and began to breed in the wild. However, due to the lack of clear legal grounds to regulate them, there were limitations in controlling their population.

* Originally, sika deer did not inhabit Anmado Island in Yeonggwang County, Jeollanam-do, but after a livestock farmer abandoned about 10 sika deer there in the mid to late 1980s, their population rapidly increased, causing problems such as ecosystem disruption and damage to crops.

According to the Ministry of Environment’s survey on the sika deer population, there are 937 deer on Anmado Island and 178 deer on Gureopdo Island. Compared to the national average population density of water deer (7.1 deer/㎢), Anmado's density is about 23 times higher (162 deer/㎢), and Gureopdo's density is about 15 times higher (73 deer/㎢).

< Changes in Vegetation Index of Anmado Island (Grassland and Forest Areas → Barren Land) >

※ The vegetation index is an indicator that numerically represents the growth condition of plants: 0.2 or lower indicates rocky or barren land, 0.2 to 0.5 indicates grassland, and 0.5 or higher indicates dense forest areas. A lower value signifies more severe vegetation destruction.

□ Sika deer have strong reproductive capabilities and no natural predators, leading to a rapid increase in their population. They indiscriminately feed on herbaceous plants, fruits, and tree bark, causing the death of native plants and the destruction of vegetation.

In addition, they negatively impact the native ecosystem by competing for food and habitat with indigenous wildlife such as water deer, gorals, and roe deer.

In particular, on Anmado Island, not only has the plant ecosystem been destroyed, but crop damage amounting to approximately KRW 160 million over the past five years has also been con.firmed.

□ In addition, sika deer have been identified as major hosts for ticks that can transmit diseases to humans. Among 25 tick samples collected by the Ministry of Environment from islands including Anmado, Nanjido, and Gureopdo, the Rickettsia pathogen, which poses an infection risk to humans, was detected in 22 samples.

Infection with the Rickettsia pathogen can cause symptoms such as high fever, headache, and muscle pain, and if treatment is delayed, it can worsen into conditions like pneumonia and potentially lead to death. 

□ Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment plans to finalize by the end of the year the designation of sika deer as a harmful wild animal by revising the Enforcement Decree of the Wildlife Protection and Management Act.

The term of ‘harmful wild animal’ refers to wild animals that cause harm to human life or property and are designated by the Ministry of Environment's decree. If damage is caused by harmful wild animals, individuals can apply for a capture permit from the local government, and capture is permitted only in limited cases where no other measures are available based on the investigation results.

□ In addition, institutional improvements such as legal amendments are being pursued to prevent problems caused by the abandonment of livestock, like the sika deer on Anmado Island. Currently, a proposed amendment to the Livestock Industry Act has been submitted to the National Assembly, stipulating that livestock farmers who abandon their animals may be subject to up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 10 million.

□ Ryu Chul-hwan, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, stated, “Problems that had been neglected due to the lack of clear regulations have now found a pathway to resolution through the Commission’s mediation and the cooperation of the two ministries.” He added, “We will continue to actively mediate and coordinate unresolved issues arising from institutional blind spots to alleviate public inconvenience.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com