The Temporary Equilibrium of Ethics in Animal Protection in South Korea

This article explores the ethical concept of benevolence in relation to animal welfare. At the individual level, animal protection in South Korea is largely driven by benevolence: a primordial, emotional virtue whose target varies by individual, context, and time. This variation often leads to conflict. Conflicts, such as the 2021 incident at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, illustrate how differing targets of benevolence―like protecting birds versus stray cats―can create irreconcilable tensions. Local governments apply negative utilitarianism, aiming to reduce immediate public discomfort rather than addressing root causes. The central government, by contrast, follows a dual strategy: implementing anthropocentric and sometimes harsh utilitarian policies domestically while aligning with international animal protection standards. Virtue ethics and negative utilitarianism offer practical approaches by focusing on context-specific responses based on feelings like benevolence and pain. Though limited in scope and not universally applicable, these frameworks allow for flexible, case-by-case resolutions to animal welfare issues. This evolving ethical equilibrium responds to shifting social values and serves as a functional means of supporting animal protection efforts.