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After years in limbo, Busan’s only zoo and its keepers look forward to fresh start

Published: 17 Mar. 2026, 05:00 Updated: 17 Mar. 2026, 14:19

Moommi, an Asian elephant, walks inside its enclosure at the zoo within the Children’s Grand Park in Busanjin District, Busan, on March 4. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

BUSAN — When the zoo at Busan Children’s Grand Park reopens next year, it will mark seven years since the animals at the city’s only zoo last had regular visitors.

On a recent weekday, the quiet grounds showed how those years have passed. Crows gathered in the trees and on empty walkways, their calls echoing through the park. The smell of animal waste hung in the air.

Some of the animals still reacted quickly to the presence of a stranger.

An Asian elephant named Moommi walked toward the fence as this reporter approached its enclosure. After lingering for a moment, the elephant scooped up a clump of dirt with its trunk and flung it toward the unfamiliar face.

“Moommi used to perform a routine where it put a basketball into a hoop with its trunk,” said Ahn Dong-su, head of the zoo formerly known as Samjung the Park, who accompanied the reporter's visit. “Even before the zoo closed, it sometimes played pranks like that on visitors. You could think of it as a sign of friendliness.”

A Siberian tiger sits inside its enclosure while watching visitors outside at the zoo within the Children’s Grand Park in Busanjin District, Busan, on March 4. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

A black leopard bares its teeth while looking outside its enclosure at the zoo within the Children’s Grand Park in Busanjin District, Busan, on March 4. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

Other animals also seemed to take notice. Penguins, ostriches, coatis and mountain goats moved closer to the edges of their enclosures as if watching people again after a long absence. Larger predators — including Siberian tigers, African lions and Kodiak bears — paced slowly through their habitats or slept under the winter sun.

One area of the zoo, however, stood silent.

The monkey house near the center of the grounds was empty. The enclosure once held about 20 monkeys, including hamadryas baboons, which often entertained visitors by mimicking their movements through reinforced glass.

“Even after the zoo closed, a veterinarian visited two or three times a week to check the animals,” Ahn said. “But pneumonia spread among the monkeys last summer. It was highly contagious and fatal.”

A second life for Busan’s only zoo

Humboldt penguins swim at the zoo within the Children’s Grand Park in Busanjin District, Busan, on March 4. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

The zoo opened in April 2014 under private operator Samjung Enterprise through a partnership with the Busan Metropolitan Government. Built under a private investment agreement, the city provided administrative support while the company financed and operated the facility.

As the city’s only zoo, it initially drew large crowds. But financial losses mounted, and the facility closed in April 2020.

The shutdown later led to a dispute between the company and the city over whether the terms of the agreement had been fulfilled and who was responsible for the failed operation.

A Kodiak bear moves inside its enclosure at the zoo within the Children’s Grand Park in Busanjin District, Busan, on March 4. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

That dispute recently ended when Busan agreed to purchase the zoo’s land and facilities for 47.83 billion won ($32 million). The two sides plan to sign a contract on April 15.

Busan "will pay 10 percent upfront and settle the remainder over two to three years," according to a city representative. "Once the contract takes effect, Busan will assume control of the zoo’s operations."

A new day, a new zoo

Busan plans to renovate aging enclosures and redesign habitats to better reflect the natural behavior of each species. The city also plans to preserve the park’s existing terrain and vegetation as much as possible.

Before the official reopening next year, Busan is considering temporarily opening the grounds to the public around Oct. 5, which marks Busan Citizens' Day.

Ahn Dong-su, director of the zoo within the Children’s Grand Park, formerly known as Samjung the Park, in Busanjin District, Busan, explains the conditions of the zoo and its animals on March 4. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

City representatives are also reviewing ways to retain the 13 employees who continued caring for the animals during the years of closure while receiving close to minimum wage.

“Many citizens have shown strong interest in how the zoo will operate,” a city representative said. “We are also preparing programs that allow people to participate, including educational activities.”

For Ahn, who has worked at the zoo since it first opened, the years since the closure have been difficult.

“A zookeeper’s reward is caring for animals well and showing visitors healthy animals,” Ahn said. “During the shutdown, it was often painful to see the animals portrayed as unwanted burdens.”

“I don’t know whether I’ll still have a job here after the zoo reopens,” he added. “But while I’m here, I want to make sure preparations for a safe and solid reopening move forward.”

Hyenas walk inside their enclosure at the zoo within the Children’s Grand Park in Busanjin District, Busan, on March 4. [SONG BONG-GEUN]

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM MIN-JU [[email protected]]