A free lecture for about 100 residents at Heo Jun Museum on Oct. 27 will feature a lawyer and a veterinarian covering conflict resolution and trap-neuter-return management
Gangseo-gu in Seoul is rolling out a "2026 Stray Cat Coexistence Solution" program aimed at reducing neighborhood conflicts over stray cats and fostering a more mature animal welfare culture.
The initiative has two components: a "Stray Cat Care and Management Culture Class" to share best practices for caring for stray cats, and on-site "Conflict Management Consultations" that bring officials directly to flashpoint locations to work out solutions.
The culture class will be held Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. at Heo Jun Museum (87 Heojun-ro, first-floor audiovisual room). Admission is free and the session is open to about 100 local residents, including both those who feed stray cats and neighbors who have had conflicts with them.
The lecturers are attorney Shin Su-kyung, a board member of the Animal Rights Lawyers Group, and Cho Yun-ju, research director at VIP Animal Medical Center and animal welfare director of the Korea Veterinary Medical Association.
In the first session, Shin will speak on "Community Coexistence Through Stray Cat Conflict and Rescue Cases," covering successful conflict resolution examples, stray cat rescue cases, and ways to promote harmonious coexistence with visitors to parks and other public facilities.
In the second session, Cho will address "Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Programs and Feeding Station Management for Healthy Stray Cat Care," offering guidance on effective neutering management and seasonal feeding station protocols.
Alongside this, the district will conduct on-site conflict management consultations in areas where tensions run high — particularly around the installation of stray cat feeding stations. Parties to the disputes, animal protection officers and relevant civil servants will visit the sites in person to identify solutions suited to each location and build a cooperative framework.
The district plans to continue identifying areas with frequent complaints or serious conflicts and to carry out further on-site consultations there.
"I hope this program will deepen residents' understanding of stray cats and serve as an opportunity to resolve conflicts wisely," District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon said. "We will do our utmost to create a warm urban environment where both people and animals can live together with peace of mind."
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