Illegal pet sales surge on livestream, raising concerns over animal welfare

A YouTube livestream recently drew attention after a host promoted the sale of puppies in real time, saying, “We only have four dogs left. You’ll be surprised at how cheap they are, prices are completely down. Anyone looking to raise a Samoyed? Take them home for a low price.” 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, saying, “All Bichons have been sold, but reservations are open, contact me anytime,” and “We can deliver nationwide, so feel free to reach out.” This kind of live commerce, where pets are showcased, priced and sold in real time through YouTube, Instagram and other social media platforms, has become increasingly common in Korea. Modeled after televised home shopping channels, these broadcasts allow viewers to “order” a living animal with just a few clicks. However, such transactions are illegal under Korean law. Article 49 of the Enforcement Rules of the AnimaWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times