Seoul City to Mandate Dangerous Dog Insurance from the 12th... Only Electronic Chip Allowed for Animal Registration

When Selling Registered Animals, Registration Must Be Applied Under Buyer's Name Before Sale
Stricter Punishments for Abuse... Owners of Dangerous Dogs Must Enroll in Liability Insurance

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] With the amendment to the Animal Protection Act taking effect from the 12th, it will now be mandatory to subscribe to liability insurance for dangerous dogs, and animals can only be sold after applying for animal registration under the buyer's name.

On the 10th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will actively guide and monitor compliance with the amended Animal Protection Act based on these provisions.

First, to strengthen the safe coexistence of animals and people, in addition to the existing management obligations for dangerous dog owners?such as wearing a leash and muzzle when accompanied by the dog, prohibition from entering restricted areas, and completing annual mandatory education?a new regulation mandating 'subscription to dangerous dog insurance' will be implemented.

Furthermore, animal sellers will be required to apply for animal registration under the buyer's name when selling registered animals, restricting the sale of unregistered animals. This is expected to reduce abandonment from the very first stage of pet ownership. Punishments for acts of abuse that lead to abandonment or death of animals will also be strengthened, which is anticipated to reduce animal abuse and abandonment.

According to this amendment, the 'identification tag' method of animal registration will be abolished, and registration will only be possible through 'radio-frequency identification devices.' In Seoul, to prevent loss and abandonment of pets and to protect animals, since 2019, through a business agreement on animal registration activation with the Seoul Insurance Association and the Seoul Veterinary Medical Association, owners have been able to register embedded electronic chip animals for 10,000 KRW, and this support will continue from March this year.

Park Yu-mi, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Citizen Health Bureau, stated, "The amendment to the Animal Protection Act has created conditions to spread safe coexistence between animals and people and to reduce abandonment and abuse. Seoul will actively promote compliance with the amended regulations among dangerous dog owners and animal sellers and strengthen support for pet dog registration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.