Editing Whaling (section)

=== South Korea ===

Commercial whaling was banned in 1986 in South Korea in keeping with the IWC issued global moratorium on whale hunting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodds |first=Margaux |date=2023-08-25 |title=Illegal killing of minke whales in South Korea {{!}} Marine Connection |url=https://marineconnection.org/illegal-killing-of-minke-whales-in-south-korea/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |language=en-US}}</ref> In early July 2012, during IWC discussions in Panama, South Korea said it would undertake scientific whaling as allowed despite the global moratorium on whaling. Due to a loud global outcry, South Korea abandoned this plan and has not resumed any form of whaling program.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCurry |first=Justin |date=2012-12-06 |title=South Korea drops plans to resume whaling |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/06/south-korea-drops-plan-whaling |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

There is still a loophole in South Korean laws that allows fishermen to keep any bycatch including whales. All whales caught accidentally must be reported and is then inspected for harpoon injuries. The meat from these whales can then be sold, which can be very lucrative for fishermen who can earn up to 200 million won ($150,000 US) per minke whale. This loophole has led to high numbers of whale, dolphin and other cetacean deaths. In 2023, the number was 866 recorded deaths, which is a sizable reduction from a high of 2,014 cases in 2019 and 1,066 in 2022, but is still worryingly high.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-26 |author-last1=Park|author-first1=Chan-kyong|title=South Korea is failing whales, activists say as they call for bycatch ban |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3232345/south-korea-urged-ban-sale-whale-meat-disguised-lotto-sea-bycatch |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Fishermen who abuse this loophole have been arrested and prosecuted, but activists have spoken out against this loophole, and demanded more protections for whales and better accounting for those caught and killed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoon |first=Moon Ki |date=2023-08-25 |title=Illegal whaling bust nabs 55 individuals responsible for killing 17 whales |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230825000537 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=The Korea Herald |language=en}}</ref>

Due to their concern, and the higher than the global average numbers of bycatch cetacean deaths,15 members of the Korean Parliament put forward a bill in 2023 to ban the consumption of whale meat and to have a more rigorous inspection of all whale carcasses by Coast Guards. Activists also want to have a database created that would help authorities spot more easily those who are using the loophole to illegally hunt whales.<ref name=":3" />

The Bill raises hopes for better protections for whales but it will have to face a culture with deep historical, geographical and cultural ties to whale meat, and opposition from the commercial fishing industry.<ref name=":3" />