If You Register or Update Animal Registration by September 30, 'No Fine'... Seoul City Operates Voluntary Reporting Period

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 18th that it will operate a ‘Voluntary Animal Registration Reporting Period’ from the 19th to September 30. If new animal registration is done or changes to previously registered information are reported during the voluntary reporting period, fines for unregistered or unreported cases will be waived.

The animal registration system has been implemented since 2014 under the Animal Protection Act. Dogs aged two months or older kept in houses or quasi-houses or kept as pets must be mandatorily registered. Additionally, even if already registered, if there are changes in the owner, the owner’s address or phone number, or the animal’s condition, a change report must be filed.

Applications for animal registration and change reports can be made through animal hospitals, animal sales businesses, or other animal registration agencies designated by the district office. Furthermore, except for owner changes, change reports can also be submitted online through the Animal Protection Management System.

Animal registration can be done by choosing between an internal type, which involves inserting a radio frequency identification device (microchip) into the animal’s body (by injection), and an external type, which is attached in the form of a collar or similar. The internal type, once inserted, poses no risk of loss or damage for life, whereas the external type is prone to loss or damage, so the internal type is recommended. Under a Seoul city support project, Seoul citizens can register for 10,000 KRW.

After this voluntary reporting period ends, intensive enforcement is scheduled to begin in October. If a target animal is not registered or changes to registered information are not reported, a fine of up to 600,000 KRW may be imposed.

Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Citizen Health Bureau, said, “Animal registration is an essential requirement to protect precious companion animals and is a promise to responsibly care for pets as family members.” She added, “Owners who have not yet registered their animals are urged to actively participate in animal registration during this voluntary reporting period and to observe basic pet etiquette such as wearing leashes and collecting excrement when going out with their dogs.”

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