Boeun to hold national ox-strength contest Oct 16-20 amid animal abuse dispute
In short
Boeun county in North Chungcheong Province will hold the 17th Boeun National Folk Ox Strength Contest from Oct 16 to 20 at the Boeongcheon riverside arena, with about 150 cattle expected to compete. Boeun is the only local government in the Chungcheong region allowed to stage such events, and it is providing 220 million won in support. Animal protection groups call the contest animal abuse and plan protest picketing at the venue, while the county cites traditional culture and the local economy.
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Boeun county in North Chungcheong Province will hold the 17th Boeun National Folk Ox Strength Contest from Oct 16 to 20 at the Boeongcheon riverside arena, timed to the 2026 Boeun Jujube Festival, the county and the Boeun branch of the Korea Folk Ox Strength Association said on Oct 6. Newsis reported that about 150 cattle are to take part. Boeun is the only Chungcheong-region local government permitted to hold such a contest under a Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs notice that allows 11 nationwide. [ 1 , 2 ]
The county has held the event since 2007, every year except during the COVID-19 pandemic. It says the contest draws tourists and helps promote Songnisan Hanwoo, the area's hanwoo brand. Boeun county is providing 220 million won in support for this year's edition. [ 2 ]
Animal protection groups describe the contest as animal abuse. A coalition of the Green Party and animal protection organisations, the Animal Abuse Bullfighting Abolition National Action, recently asked the agriculture ministry and the National Assembly to process an abolition bill quickly and is campaigning to stop the contest. A representative of the group said six of the 11 designated areas — Jeongeup, Wanju, Gimhae, Hamyang, Dalseong and Cheongdo — did not budget for events this year, adding that the coalition plans protest picketing at the Boeun venue. [ 2 ]
A county official said the county is aware of the groups' arguments but must also weigh the succession of traditional culture and economic revitalisation. The official said veterinarians will be present this year so that a match is stopped immediately if cattle are injured, and that sharpening of horns will be strictly restricted. Local livestock groups in Boeun held a press conference last December arguing that ox strength contests are an agricultural heritage handed down over generations and should continue for the local economy and the transmission of tradition. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The contest is one of a shrinking number of such events nationally, and animal protection groups are pressing the National Assembly to pass an abolition bill, so the Boeun event is a test of whether the practice continues with public funding. For Boeun, the contest is tied to the local jujube festival and promotion of the Songnisan Hanwoo brand, giving the dispute both an economic and a cultural dimension.
Key facts
- The 17th Boeun National Folk Ox Strength Contest is scheduled for Oct 16-20 at the Boeongcheon riverside arena, alongside the 2026 Boeun Jujube Festival. [ 2 ]
- Newsis reported that about 150 cattle are to take part. [ 1 ]
- Under a Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs notice, only 11 local governments nationwide may hold such contests; Boeun is the only one in the Chungcheong region. [ 2 ]
- Boeun county is providing 220 million won in support for this year's event. [ 2 ]
- The county and the Boeun branch of the Korea Folk Ox Strength Association announced the schedule on Oct 6. [ 2 ]
- Animal protection groups and the Green Party, organised as the Animal Abuse Bullfighting Abolition National Action, are demanding the abolition bill be processed quickly and plan protest picketing at the venue. [ 2 ]
- The county said veterinarians will be present this year to stop a match immediately if cattle are injured, and that sharpening of horns will be strictly restricted. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The contest is scheduled for Oct 16-20 in Boeun. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Boeun is the only Chungcheong-region local government permitted to host the event, out of 11 nationwide. [ 2 ]
- Animal protection groups oppose the contest and are calling for its abolition. [ 2 ]
- Boeun county supports the event financially, with 220 million won this year. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- The number of cattle entered, reported as about 150. Only the Newsis headline gives this figure; the accompanying article text was not about this event, and no other document states a number.
- Whether the National Assembly will act on the bullfighting abolition bill. The documents say only that campaigners demanded swift processing; no legislative action or schedule is reported.
- Whether the contest will proceed as planned despite the announced protest picketing. The county says it will hold the event and campaigners say they will protest at the venue, but no document reports a cancellation, injunction or permit decision.