Proposal Submitted Following Emotional Farewell to Fu Bao, South Korea's Beloved Panda, Draws Attention

Courtesy of Eerland

A citizen's petition urging the Seoul metropolitan government to finance a loan of the giant panda Fu Bao from China was posted on the Sangsangdaero Seoul website on Monday, eliciting significant interest from the public.

The petitioner, identified by the surname Kim, proposed that Seoul cover the expenses associated with bringing Fu Bao to Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, emphasizing the significance of the panda as a symbol of the partnership between South Korea and China.
 

▲ Fu Bao / Courtesy of EerlandThe petition garnered nearly 400 "sympathize" clicks as of Wednesday morning, triggering an obligation for the city to provide an official response. Typically, it takes about two weeks for the city to address such suggestions.

Fu Bao, soon to turn four years old on July 20, holds the distinction of being the first panda born in South Korea. Previously residing at Everland theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Fu Bao is the offspring of pandas Ai Bao and Le Bao, loaned to South Korea by China under a 15-year agreement.

All giant pandas, native to China, are owned by China, even those born outside the country. Consequently, pandas residing in foreign facilities are on loan from China.

Fu Bao's impending return to China this year, before reaching maturity at around four years of age, is necessitated by South Korea's lack of unrelated male pandas for breeding purposes.

The emotional farewell to Fu Bao on April 3 saw approximately 6,000 South Korean fans gather at Incheon Airport to bid adieu to the cherished panda, who has captured the hearts of animal lovers nationwide.

Sayart 

Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com