A DISTURBING video of a horse falling head-first onto the ground with its leg tied with a wire was recently posted on the Internet. The short footage from a scene filmed for the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) drama The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won, greatly shocked viewers when they realized that the scene was not made using computer-generated effects but with an actual horse set up for a bad fall. This controversy is rightfully shedding light on the broader issue of animal rights.

A horse driven to death

   The incident first gained attention on January 19 when the Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA) posted an official statement denouncing the apparent abuse of the horse. The scene in question portrayed Yi Seong-gye, one of the show’s main characters, falling from the horse. KAWA claimed that the filmed scene had put both the stuntman and the horse at risk of getting severely injured[1]. It urged KBS to disclose the current state of the horse and release the complete footage of the scene for a clear assessment on how it was filmed[1]. KAWA further noted the absence of any clauses about animals appearing on TV in the “KBS Production Guidelines for Broadcasting Programs” document and ultimately called for practical regulations and measures in the broadcasting industry to adequately protect animals in the future[1].

   A behind-the-scenes video clip backing KAWA’s claim was released online the following day, and the South Korean public was outraged over how the horse was cruelly “made” to fall for the sake of a TV show. Several Blue House petitions were submitted, and the one demanding proper protectionary measures for animals in media production gained over 170,000 signatures. Some renowned celebrities such as Jo Su-mi and Gong Hyo-jin also expressed their frustration over the incident. The issue even gained international attention, with press media companies like CNN and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) covering the incident.

   Responding to criticism, KBS made an official apology on January 20 and disclosed that the horse had actually died after filming the dangerous scene. The horse’s owner, who has been in the animal renting business for over 25 years, stated that the horse was in fact a retired racehorse named Kami[2]. Additionally, an anonymous official in the broadcasting industry implied that knackered horses who could die soon are specifically chosen for falling in scenes[3]. KBS apologized once again for Kami’s death with another official statement, regretting its lack of recognition of bioethics and animal welfare. It is even more disheartening that it is KBS, the official public broadcaster of South Korea, that failed to set an appropriate example for animal treatment in the media industry. 

   Following the incident, several animal rights associations including the Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA) and the Korea Association for Animal Protection (KAAP) reported KBS to the police for its conventional maltreatment of animals during productions[4]. In an interview with The Yonsei Annals, KARA stated that KBS’s treatment of Kami on the filming set was undoubtedly a violation of Article 8 of the Animal Protection Law which deems any actions of animal abuse through physical or chemical means illegal. Although there were other possible ways to film the scene—such as using computer-generating effects or a sophisticated mechanical model—the KBS production crew intentionally jeopardized and injured the horse, eventually driving it to its death. After its face-to-face meeting with KAWA on January 24, KBS committed itself to making consistent efforts towards animal welfare in cooperation with KAWA, releasing official guidelines concerning the safety of animals in media production on February 10[4].

The treatment of animals in media production

   In South Korea, animals—regarded as props instead of actors or sentient beings—have been constantly abused for entertainment purposes. KARA explains that animals are usually forced to “act” during filming, which increases the possibility of animals being harmed. Multiple animal rights groups have affirmed that there have been previous cases of animal abuse on film sets. A survey conducted by KARA in late 2020 found that 69% of the 157 anonymous responses from people working in the Korean film industry agreed that the animals are subjected to poor environments[5]. Some instances provided by the respondents included intentionally breaking a bird’s legs to stop it from flying away, whipping a horse when it failed to follow instructions, and a dog foaming at the mouth after its legs were held for a long time[5].  

   These behind-the-scenes animal maltreatment cases do not come as a surprise as similar cases have been made aware to the public in the past. In 2015, the popular reality entertainment show Three Meals a Day broadcasted a dog giving birth in its second season. The dog was restrained with a thick chain leash throughout her delivery, which sparked accusations of animal abuse[6]. Although it was later clarified that the leash was to keep her away from running away, some expressed concerns over how the dog’s movements were restricted even when caring for her own puppies[7]. 

What needs to change

   Several animal rights activists have consistently been raising concerns about the treatment of animals for filming purposes. Besides conducting the aforementioned survey, KARA released a 130-page document of detailed instructions on how to properly treat different animal species, from dogs and cats to reptiles and insects. KARA distributed the handbook to a variety of broadcasting organizations, including KBS and other media production companies. However, there are unfortunately no legal regulations that make these guidelines compulsory, which fails to incentivize the people in charge to make immediate improvements.

   Kami’s case garnering widespread attention has created a new drive for the establishment of practical regulations regarding animal actors and protection of animal rights in media. KARA highlights that such a movement is nascent in South Korea compared to other countries. For instance, in the United States, most Hollywood films follow the media guidelines provided by the American Humane Association (AHA). The certification “no animals were harmed” is only included in the ending credits if the AHA deems the piece of media to have strictly followed these guidelines through observation and thorough monitoring[9]. In South Korea’s case, KARA has been making systematic efforts by reporting animal abuse cases, conducting political activities, and promoting its guidelines on treating animals in the media. Following these endeavors, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) has announced that it will introduce guidelines to protect animals in media, emphasizing that animals are not props and that alternatives such as the use of computer-generated images and robots must be seriously considered[10]. 

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   It is quite dismaying that the initiative for much needed change emerges only after such tragic incidents. Besides necessary institutional changes, KARA also highlights the importance of citizen participation and sustainable, widespread awareness and support for animal rights activities and campaigns. As such, in order to ensure that regulations regarding the protection of animals in the media become legally binding, people need to abolish the mindset that animals should naturally be at humans’ disposal. Only persistent interest in and advocacy of the issue can prevent more animals from being sacrificed for entertainment value and production quality.

[1] Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA)

[2] No Cut News

[3] Hankyoreh

[4] Newsen

[5] KARA

[6] HanKyung

[7] NotePet

[8] JoongAng Ilbo

[9] Humane Hollywood

[10] Chosun Ilbo