Animal Abuse Increased Tenfold Over 10 Years... 4 Out of 10 Cases Remain Unresolved

Animal Protection Act Violations: 98 Cases in 2011 → 1,072 Cases in 2021
Arrest Rate Declines Sharply from 90.8% to 64.3% Over 10 Years

When its owner collapsed from a stroke, Boksuni barked loudly and saved the owner. Photo by Beagle Rescue Network

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] On the afternoon of the 24th, a dog with its nose and nipples cut off was found by a passerby in front of a restaurant in Yeonji-dong, Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do. The dog was bleeding heavily from the cuts on its nose and nipples, and its name was ‘Boksuni.’ Boksuni was a loyal dog known as the neighborhood mascot for barking loudly and saving its owner’s life when the owner collapsed from a stroke. After the owner returned from the hospital, it is known that Boksuni was handed over to a slaughterhouse after it died. The Beagle Rescue Network retrieved Boksuni’s body, which had even been taken to a dog meat restaurant, and cremated it.

Two days later, on the morning of the 26th, a dog was found wandering on a road in Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju-si, with an arrow pierced through its side. A resident who saw the dog struggling in pain and panting, unable to move properly, reported it to the police. The arrow was 70 cm long, but fortunately, the dog’s life was not in danger, and it underwent surgery to remove the arrow immediately after capture.

Although we have entered an era with 15 million companion animals, animal abuse such as abandonment of pets and cruel killings of abandoned dogs and cats continues unabated. Despite being a significant social issue, proper punishment for animal abuse crimes remains elusive.

According to statistics from the National Police Agency on the 29th, violations of the Animal Protection Act have been increasing every year. Cases of Animal Protection Act violations, which were only 98 in 2011, increased to 303 in 2016, then 398 in 2017, 531 in 2018, 914 in 2019, 992 in 2020, and 1,072 in 2021. Accordingly, the number of arrests also rose. From 113 people in 2011 to 330 in 2016, and 937 in 2021, the increase was proportional to the number of cases.

However, the arrest rate compared to the number of incidents has been declining. The arrest rate was 90.8% in 2011 and hovered around 80% until 2019. Then, it dropped to 75.3% in 2020 and plummeted further to 64.3% in 2021.

Even when arrests are made, proper punishment is rare. According to data submitted to Democratic Party lawmaker Song Ki-heon by the Ministry of Justice and the Court Administration, among 4,221 suspects booked for Animal Protection Act violations in the past five years, only 4 suspects, or 0.1%, were indicted in custody. 1,965 suspects (46.6%) were not even prosecuted, and 1,372 (32.5%) received summary order dispositions. Only 122 cases (2.9%) proceeded to formal trials.

Even when cases go to trial, punishments tend to be relatively lenient. Looking at first-instance rulings for Animal Protection Act violations over the past five years, only 5.5% of defendants received prison sentences through formal trials. More than half, 56.9%, were sentenced to fines. The highest fine in the past five years was 18 million KRW (in 2021), and the lowest was 200,000 KRW (in 2017), ending with relatively light sentences. Under current law, those who commit animal abuse can be sentenced to up to three years in prison or fined up to 30 million KRW, but because there are no sentencing guidelines from the Supreme Court, the severity of punishment is determined at the judge’s discretion.

Lawmaker Song Ki-heon said, "Public awareness of animal rights and respect for life is increasing, but punishments still fail to keep pace with these changes," adding, "The judiciary must establish sentencing guidelines and impose strict punishments to make it clear that animal abuse crimes are serious offenses."

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