In South Korea, illegal YouTube puppy sales spark animal welfare concerns
One advocate group claims many animals are bred in poor conditions, with dogs kept in cramped, unsanitary cages and bred repeatedly for profit
Viewers quickly flooded the chat with comments such as “Do you have smaller dogs?” and “Show us the bichon!” The replay of the broadcast has since garnered over 20,000 views.
During the stream, the host continued to encourage sales: “All bichons have been sold, but reservations are open, contact me anytime,” and “We can deliver nationwide, so feel free to reach out.”
A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, “Buyers can visit a licensed facility to view the animal and then use an authorised transporter, but trading solely online is clearly against the law.”
Despite the ban, enforcement remains difficult. According to the ministry, authorities uncovered 66 violations among 2,676 registered pet sellers last year, with 54 resulting in administrative action and 12 in criminal complaints.