The debate over whether to bring back the giant panda Fu Bao, who returned to China on the 3rd of this month, continues to escalate.
On the 13th, a post titled “Please deport those advocating for Fu Bao’s return at taxpayers’ expense” was uploaded on Seoul as You Imagin, a citizen participation platform operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
A citizen named Jo argued, “Those advocating for Fu Bao’s return using taxpayer money should be sent to China. Instead of wasting taxpayers’ money, they should be deported.”
Reactions to the post included comments like, “I agree. Our country’s economy is struggling, and using taxes for this purpose seems misguided. It appears they are too emotionally invested to consider the reality” and “All pandas originally belong to China. Fu Bao returned to China due to mating season. It’s absurd to use taxpayers’ money to bring it back. Not everyone is fond of Fu Bao. Instead, those who wish to bring it back should raise funds themselves, rather than burdening Seoul citizens with taxes”, and so forth.
Another citizen, Lee, also voiced opposition in a post titled “Strong Opposition to Using National Taxes to Bring Back Fu Bao.” He argued, “Fu Bao deserves the right to mate and live in a spacious environment, so bringing it back to Korea for exhibition amounts to animal abuse. If people wish to see Fu Bao, they should use their funds rather than demand its return using taxpayer money. It’s essential to differentiate between public and private matters.”
On the 8th, a citizen named Kim posted a suggestion titled “Consider Allowing Us to See the Panda Fu Bao at Seoul Grand Park.”
In the post, Kim stated, “We urge for the possibility of renting Fu Bao, the panda who returned to China, using donations from Seoul citizens and the Seoul city budget. This would enable citizens to see Fu Bao at Seoul Grand Park while also allowing Chinese visitors, drawn by the Korean Wave, to encounter Fu Bao, symbolizing friendship between Korea and China.
The voting period for this proposal will continue until the 8th of next month. Following the conclusion of the vote, the relevant department of the Seoul Metropolitan Government will conduct a review and respond.
Fu Bao is the first panda born in Korea. It was naturally bred by parents Ai Bao and Le Bao, and it arrived in Korea in 2016.
As per the Giant Panda Conservation Research Agreement, pandas born outside China must be repatriated to China before turning four. Accordingly, Fu Bao was returned to the Wolong Panda Center in Sichuan Province, China, on the 3rd of this month.
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