Nearly 30 racehorses euthanized each year in Korea

Racehorses run on a track at the horse racing park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of Korea Racing Authority

Nearly 30 racehorses are euthanized each year in Korea due to severe injuries sustained during competitions, raising growing concerns over animal welfare in the country’s horse racing industry.

According to data that Rep. Yoon Joon-byeong of the Democratic Party of Korea received from the Korea Racing Authority (KRA), a total of 518 racehorses were euthanized between 2008 and September this year — an average of 28.8 per year. So far this year, 29 horses have been put down.

Most of the euthanized horses died from fractures, including broken bones in the humerus, tibia and pelvis. The KRA said about 80 percent of such injuries occur during races, where horses running at high speeds often misstep or suffer stress fractures from accumulated fatigue.

Some horses were euthanized after becoming unable to stand, while others died from concussions or sepsis.

Due to their high sensitivity and the difficulty of treatment, injured racehorses rarely return to the track. Few are adopted afterward, as they are not considered companion animals.

Owners face steep maintenance costs — often over 2 million won (about $1,400) per month per horse — making euthanasia a common outcome when a horse is seriously injured.

Animal welfare advocates say euthanasia should only be used as a last resort. “Euthanasia cannot be abused under the pretext of reducing a horse’s suffering,” Rep. Yoon said. “Treatment and rehabilitation should come first for minor injuries.”

The KRA said euthanasia is performed "only when deemed necessary by veterinarians." It added that the authority and the racehorse owners’ association jointly operate a 2 billion won annual fund to help cover the cost of medical care and rehabilitation for injured racehorses.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.