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| A tourist catches a trout during the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, Feb. 10. Korea Times file |
By Jung Min-ho
The prosecution has dropped a criminal complaint against Korea's most famous ice fishing festival.
According to the Hwacheon county office Sunday, the Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office recently dismissed the complaint by animal rights activists against the annual event.
Given that the country's animal protection law does not apply to fish, the prosecution said it was clear that there were no criminal charges to file against the event host.
The winter festival, which brought more than 1.8 million tourists from around the world to a remote mountain town in Gangwon Province last year, has long been denounced by animal rights activists, who view it as "abusive" and "human-focused" amusement.
In January, 11 animal rights groups jointly filed a complaint against Hwacheon county head Choi Moon-soon over animal abuse.
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