To tackle abuse, abandonment, South Korea to grant legal status to animals

The amendment, which still has to be adopted by parliament, most likely at its next regular session in September, would make South Korea one of just a few countries to recognise animals as beings with the right to protection, improved welfare, and respect for life.

Choung Jae-min, the justice ministry's director-general of legal counsel, recently announced that animal abusers and people who leave pets will soon face tougher penalties as South Korea seeks to change its civil law to provide animals legal rights. The amendment, which still has to be adopted by parliament, most likely at its next regular session in September, would make South Korea one of just a few countries to recognise animals as beings with the right to protection, improved welfare, and respect for life.

According to data given by a lawmaker's office, the number of animal cruelty cases increased to 914 in 2019 from 69 in 2010. The country's pet-owning population grew to more than 10 million in a country of 52 million people.

South Korea's animal protection law states that anyone who abuses or is cruel to animals faces up to three years in prison or a fine of $25,494. Still, the standards used to determine penalties are low because animals are treated as objects under the current legal system. The official believes that once the Civil Act proclaims that animals are no longer just things, courts and prosecutors will have additional alternatives when calculating punishments.

The Korea Pet Industry Retail Association expressed scepticism about the plan, pointing out that there are existing regulations to safeguard animals. Animal rights activists applauded the justice ministry's initiative but demanded harsher punishments for people who abandon or mistreat animals, as well as a ban on dog meat.