Home > National > Social Affairs

Zoos to face tighter safety regulations after wolf lammed it in Daejeon

Published: 22 Apr. 2026, 17:51 Updated: 22 Apr. 2026, 18:43

Neukgu the wolf looks around while eating minced chicken and beef at the Daejeon O-World Zoo in Daejeon on April 20. [DAEJEON O-WORLD]

The government will tighten safety regulations at zoos nationwide and restrict hands-on visitor experiences following the escape of a wolf from a zoo in Daejeon, authorities said Wednesday.

The wolf, named Neukgu, escaped the zoo at the O-World amusement park on April 8 by digging under an enclosure fence, remaining on the lam for nine days before being captured. His escape prompted the government to carry out inspections of all 121 zoos nationwide since April 9.

“This incident will serve as an opportunity to fundamentally overhaul zoo safety management systems and animal welfare standards,” said Minister of Climate, Energy, and Environment Kim Sung-whan.

The government plans to accelerate the transition from a zoo registration system to a permit-based system to strengthen oversight. Although the permit system was introduced at the end of 2023, existing zoos were given a five-year grace period, with only 10 out of 121 zoos nationwide currently operating under permits. To obtain permits, zoos must meet stricter requirements, such as increasing the number of caretakers and installing escape prevention equipment to receive approval.

“We will focus our policy efforts on ensuring that more than 90 percent of zoos comply with the permit system by December 2027, one year ahead of the original deadline of December 2028,” the Environment Ministry said. “We will also support improvements to inadequate facilities and help secure additional staff such as veterinarians and animal keepers.”

Restrictions will also be placed on visitor experiences that may stress the zoo animals. On-site inspections found that some zoos offer paid feeding or petting experiences under the guise of educational activities.

Neukgu, a wolf that ran away from Daejeon's O-World on April 8, receives a health checkup at a local veterinary clinic after being captured on April 17. [DAEJEON METROPOLITAN CITY]

The Environment Ministry plans to revise its guidelines for animal education and experience programs at zoos to reduce such harmful activities and introduce new animal welfare–focused programs.

“While the law prohibits feeding experiences for entertainment or commercial purposes, the standards have not been clearly defined,” an Environment Ministry official said. “We plan to introduce revised guidelines that ensure animals are not subjected to stress.”

The O-World zoo will remain closed for the time being after authorities determined that poor safety management contributed to the escape. The Geum River Basin Environmental Office, which oversees the zoo, issued a corrective order on Monday after concluding that Neukgu's escape constituted a violation of relevant safety management obligations.

Under the order, O-World must submit a report outlining the cause of the escape and what measures it plans to undertake to prevent a recurrence. The Environment Ministry will conduct an on-site inspection based on the report, and the zoo will remain closed until corrective actions are completed.

Firefighters mobilize to search for Neukgu the wolf at O-World in Daejeon on the morning of April 9, the day after the animal escaped. [YONHAP]

“Reopening before the early May holiday period is the goal,” said a representative from Daejeon City Corporation, which operates O-World.

“It is difficult to determine at this point when the zoo will be able to reopen. It depends on how quickly O-World implements the necessary measures,” an Environment Ministry official said.

Neukgu was captured in the early hours of Friday and is currently recovering at a veterinary facility in the zoo. The wolf has been eating normally and shows no serious health issues, although it lost about 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) during his taste of freedom.

A fishhook measuring 2.6 centimeters (1 inch) was discovered in the wolf’s stomach and removed through an endoscopic procedure on Friday. No digestive issues have been found, but he is being fed smaller portions to aid digestion. The animal is also receiving medication as a precaution against potential exposure to ticks or viruses while outside its enclosure.

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 CHON KWON-PIL [[email protected]]