"19 Poodles Adopted and Killed"... Is Personal Information Disclosure Not Allowed Despite 200,000 Petition Signatures?

Violation of Animal Protection Act Is Not a Crime Subject to Personal Information Disclosure

Poodle adopted by Mr. A.
Photo by Gunsan Stray Cat Care Official Instagram

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] More than 200,000 people have agreed to a national petition demanding severe punishment and the disclosure of personal information of the perpetrator who adopted 19 poodles and then brutally abused and killed them. However, contrary to public opinion, it seems difficult to disclose the perpetrator's personal information.

On the 7th, a post titled "Please agree to disclose the personal information and urge punishment of the criminal who adopted 19 poodles, brutally tortured and killed them, and illegally buried the bodies" was uploaded on the Blue House national petition board. As of 5 p.m. on the 29th, the petition has received 202,927 signatures.

According to Gunsan Police Station, Mr. A (41) is suspected of adopting 19 dogs, including poodles, from October last year until recently, brutally torturing them, killing them, and abandoning the bodies in apartment flower beds and other places.

Mr. A is believed to have tortured the adopted dogs by submerging them underwater to suffocate them or causing burns by exposing them to fire. An autopsy of the deceased dogs revealed burn marks all over their bodies.

Mr. A, who worked at a public institution, reportedly reassured dog owners by showing his ID card and photos of his official residence. When the owners who had given the dogs for adoption inquired about their dogs' whereabouts, he allegedly made excuses such as "the dog slipped off the leash and disappeared during a walk."

This case came to light when one dog owner posted on social media that they could not contact the adopter.

The Gunsan Stray Cat Care Group visited Mr. A's house and found many dog cages and supplies inside, but no dogs at all, which aroused suspicion. After prolonged persuasion, Mr. A confessed to the crime.

During the police investigation, Mr. A reportedly claimed diminished mental capacity and mental illness as reasons for the crime.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Capture

The petitioner stated, "Mr. A claims diminished mental capacity and mental illness, but the methods of abuse show a complex nature of sophistication, meticulousness, and boldness unlike previous animal abuse cases," and urged the disclosure of his personal information, saying, "If the victims had not known (about the crimes), Mr. A would have continued committing the same crimes."

However, it seems difficult to disclose Mr. A's personal information.

The disclosure of a suspect's personal information is determined according to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes (Special Violent Crimes Act) and the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (Sexual Violence Punishment Act). Since this case is not a sexual crime, even under the Special Violent Crimes Act, 'violation of the Animal Protection Act' is not classified as a crime stipulated in the relevant laws.

Article 8-2 of the Special Violent Crimes Act (Disclosure of Suspect's Face, etc.) stipulates that personal information disclosure requirements include cases where the crime method is cruel and serious damage has occurred in specific violent crime cases, sufficient evidence of the crime exists, and disclosure is necessary for the public interest such as guaranteeing the public's right to know or crime prevention.

A police official said, "This case is not subject to personal information disclosure under current law," and added, "Since this is a matter of great public interest, we plan to swiftly investigate and soon send the case to the prosecution."

Meanwhile, as the case became known through the media and the police investigation began, it is understood that Mr. A has been removed from his position at the relevant institution.

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