Core Points - South Korea will fully ban bear farming, a controversial practice for decades, starting January 1, 2024, despite approximately 200 bears still being kept in captivity [1][3][4] - The revision of the Wildlife Protection and Management Act was passed in December 2023, officially prohibiting bear farming [2][5] - The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced that 34 bears have already been transferred to protective facilities, while negotiations between animal rights organizations and bear farmers are ongoing, with 199 bears remaining in 11 breeding farms [3][6] - A six-month grace period will be provided during which farmers will not face penalties for keeping bears, but any attempts to extract bear bile will be strictly punished [3][6]