Starting Next Month, Introduction of Dangerous Dog Insurance... Effectiveness Questioned Due to Limitation to 5 Dog Breeds

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[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] As dog bite incidents have become more frequent, the mandatory subscription to 'dangerous dog insurance' will be enforced starting next month, but concerns are being raised about its effectiveness. This is because the coverage is limited to certain breeds and the scope of coverage is very low compared to advanced countries overseas.

According to the insurance industry on the 5th, from February, owners of dangerous dogs must compulsorily subscribe to liability insurance. Under the Animal Protection Act, this applies to five breeds classified as dangerous dogs: Dosa dogs, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, and their mixed breeds. Owners who do not subscribe to this insurance will be fined up to 3 million won.

The dangerous dog liability insurance covers 80 million won if a person dies or suffers permanent disability due to a dangerous dog, and 15 million won if injured. It also covers at least 2 million won if another animal is injured.

Some argue that limiting the coverage to five breeds is problematic given that dog bite incidents occur regardless of breed. For example, the breed of the dog owned by actor Kim Min-kyo, which bit and killed an elderly man in his 80s last May, was a Belgian Sheepdog, which is not included in the five dangerous dog breeds. The breed involved in the 2017 dog bite incident involving singer Choi Si-won was a French Bulldog. On the pet community 'Gangsa-mo' Naver cafe, searching for 'dog bite incidents' reveals posts reporting incidents involving various breeds such as Jindo dogs, Welsh Corgis, and Siberian Huskies.

Compared to advanced countries overseas, the range of dangerous dog breeds is narrow. In Germany, while specific breeds are designated as dangerous dogs, owners of dogs over 40cm in height or weighing more than 20kg are required to subscribe to liability insurance. In the United States, 29 states manage dangerous dogs on an individual basis rather than by specific breeds.

There are also voices criticizing the low maximum coverage amount. Lee Ji-hyun (40, pseudonym), who experienced a dog bite incident, said, "Dog bite incidents cause not only medical expenses but also disruptions to economic activities and trauma related to dogs, which is no small matter." She added, "If a person dies or becomes disabled, the trauma would be even greater, so isn't the coverage limit too low?"

Korea's dangerous dog insurance coverage amounts are relatively low compared to advanced countries overseas. Minnesota in the United States has set the minimum mandatory coverage limit for dangerous dog liability insurance at $300,000 (approximately 326 million won). Washington state also set the minimum mandatory coverage limit at $250,000 (approximately 271 million won).

Lee Hyung-joo, head of the Animal Welfare Issues Research Institute Aware, pointed out, "Dogs that attack people are not determined by breed, so limiting the coverage to only five breeds makes it difficult to protect people." He added, "There needs to be institutional measures to establish a mature dog culture, such as a system to verify whether mandatory insurance is subscribed to."

Reporter Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

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