The Temporary Equilibrium of Ethics in Animal Protection in South Korea

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This article explores the ethical concept of benevolence in relation to animal welfare. At the in dividual 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 ad dressing root causes. The central government, by contrast, follows a dual strategy: implementing anthro pocentric 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 uni versally 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 sup porting animal protection efforts.