South Korea passes law banning animal abusers from owning pets

The South Korean National Assembly has passed an amendment to the Animal Protection Act, introducing a ban on animal breeding and management for convicted abusers. Under the new law, courts can prohibit individuals with a proven risk of recidivism from owning or caring for animals for a period of one to five years. During this time, offenders will be subject to probation, and violations can result in up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of 10 million won. In such cases, ownership of the animals will be transferred to local governments.

The amendment also provides legal grounds for the state and local governments to support retired service animals, such as military, detection, and rescue dogs. This includes the establishment of a support center to manage their care, medical treatment, and potential adoption. Currently, only about 22% of retired service animals in South Korea are successfully adopted.

Additionally, the legislation aims to prevent deceptive business practices by prohibiting animal-related businesses from using names that could mislead the public into thinking they are animal protection facilities. It also introduces penalties for neglect, allowing for fines if owners fail to meet minimum care and space requirements for their animals.