Inside S. Korea’s Largest Horse Slaughter House - Hanya Awan

Following the treatment of U.S. racehorses and their offspring treatment by institutions, across the continent, South Korea has a large slaughterhouse dedicated to horses on their own. In the country, near Jeju Island, many investigators have travelled in the past few years to discover these horse slaughter farms and the reality of the violent act that violates guidelines towards the Animal Protection Act. South Korea has been increasing the growth in the cost of annual horse racing and has bet more than the U.S. $8 billion to increase horse racing events.

In spite of the seemingly harmless events and races, which receive positive feedback from the public and those who watch and attend, the slaughterhouse conceals so many harmful and unsafe procedures and actions committed to these horses. The horses are being aggressively fed by the workers and owners in the stalls in which the horses are kept in. The horses are forced to aggressively and unsafely breed, and those who do not succeed in doing so and experience injuries get discarded. According to the KRA official, of the 1,600 horses that retire from the racing results, only 50 horses (3%) are suitable for continuing further equestrian activities. The rest of the horses that retire and are unsuitable to further progress in following equestrian activities are slaughtered violently, which results in the horseflesh being sold in multiple restaurant locations around the nation. Grocery stores receive horse flesh products and horse oil is used in beauty products. After a live documentary and footage by PETA investigators, the footage showed horses kept in congested and manure-filled stalls. Many horses appeared ill, had hair loss, sores and ulcerated eyes. Many horses were slaughtered in less than 72 hours after they completed their races and competitions.

South Korea continues to neglect the fundamental harm and damage that these slaughterhouses are causing. Using the horse racing industry as an excuse, the nation creates a facade that the industry is creating jobs, producing goods, and providing safe sports practices, while it is only harming and making horses unsafe to use for racing. Since horses are more nervous and more hesitant when they realize that they are being slaughtered, unsafe slaughter centres use captive-bolt guns to complete slaughter without much action. Often the horses are slaughtered in pairs and many horses develop anxiety and stress as they see their companions and family being shot in the head right in front of their plain sight.

Due to this ongoing issue, the exposed actions have opened the public’s perspective after videos and footage were spread. The violent acts and the harmful industry violate many laws, including South Korea’s Korean Animal Protection Act. Members of the PETA organization and several Korean animal protection groups have submitted a complaint about the conditions and are negotiating with the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Jeju City. The KRA is currently aiming to create further progress and aim to raise the quality of South Korea’s horse racing.