![An Asiatic black bear spotted on Sudosan in Gimcheon [Newsis]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/08/26/news-p.v1.20260826.fddb90c43dbf430284dbdf6e74a1dab5_P1.jpg)
Japan is ramping up its response to a surge in wild bear attacks, committing a total of 26 billion yen ($163 million) to build out bear capture and monitoring systems. But some observers note the problem may not be unique to Japan — South Korea has been releasing Asiatic black bears into the wild since 2004, and incidents involving the animals are on the rise.
Japan's Ministry of the Environment plans to allocate about 8 billion yen toward bear attack prevention in next year's budget, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Wednesday.
The ministry also intends to expand the scope of subsidies provided to local governments, which previously covered only hunter labor costs, to include funding for facilities that process captured bears and dedicated shooting ranges for hunters.
Bear-related casualties in Japan hit a record high last year, with 238 people injured or killed — including 13 fatalities. This year, 53 people had been affected through late July, six of them fatally.
In South Korea, Asiatic black bears reintroduced to Jirisan have repeatedly damaged beehives and orchards. The animals have also spread beyond Jirisan to Deogyusan, Sudosan and Gayasan, with sightings near residential areas — including around household trash bins — becoming increasingly common.
Hikers encountering bears on mountain trails have also become a frequent occurrence, raising safety concerns. No fatalities from direct bear attacks have been reported, but confrontations that force people to flee have occurred with growing regularity.
The Korea National Park Service has responded by installing electric fences in areas where bears frequently appear and compensating affected farmers through insurance. Some critics, however, argue that with public safety now at stake, authorities must move beyond stopgap measures and develop a more fundamental solution.
husn7@heraldcorp.com
