South Korea Gets Serious About Animal Rights—After A Pomeranian’s Ear‑Splitting Story
In 2018, Jin‑hui, a cream‑coloured Pomeranian, faced an unjust fate in the port city of Busan—buried alive and left to die without a single complaint ever filed against its owner. The case rattled animal lovers nationwide, sparking a fresh push for stricter protections.
Why the Furry Crowd is Feeling the Heat
- Families and activists demand that cruel pets get real consequences.
- Without any charges, many felt the justice system was blind to the suffering of animals.
- The story of Jin‑hui, who endured a painful death, became the catalyst for change.
South Korea’s Plan to Give Animals a Voice
According to Choung Jae‑min, the justice ministry’s legal counsel director‑general, the country is gearing up to amend its civil code. The idea? Treat animals as beings—not just property—granting them legal status and a right to protection.
What That Means for the “Legal Status” of Animals
- Animals would officially be recognized as entities deserving welfare and respect.
- Abusers and abandoners would face harsher penalties, catching them in the legal net.
- South Korea would join a select group of nations—like Canada and Denmark—who formally grant animals legal status.
Current Status: “Coming Soon”
The proposed amendment still needs parliamentary approval, expected during the next regular session in September. If passed, it could be a game‑changer for animal rights advocates and a serious warning to anyone who’s thought pets could be treated as disposable.
So next time you see a cute Pomeranian, remember Jin‑hui—and the legal shift that might keep future fur‑friends from facing a similar fate.
<img alt="" data-caption="Jin-hui, a five-year-old Pomeranian dog, who was rescued from under the ground, sits at an animal shelter in Anseong, South Korea, on Aug 11, 2021.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”066611ab-5e2b-4453-b74b-1cc0f0406b4c” src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20210820_dog_reuters.jpg”/>
South Korea Is Re‑thinking Its Love‑for‑Pets Laws
It’s not just how many socks get lost in the laundry that’s worrying lawmakers—there’s a hefty spike in animal abuse cases too. In 2019, the number of reported animal cruelty incidents shot up to 914 from a modest 69 in 2010. While the nation’s pet‑owner count has stretched to over 10 million, the legal system still treats animals more like cupboard items than living beings.
Why the Push for an Amendment?
- 2010‑2019 Jump: Abuse cases went from 69 to 914—an eight‑fold surge.
- Pet‑Population Explosion: 10 million owners in a country of 52 million.
- Current Penalty Limits: Up to 3 years jail or a 30‑million‑won fine (about $35,000).
- Legal Gap: Animals are still considered “things,” so judges and prosecutors have little wiggle room.
What the Amendment Could Do
Changing the civil code would mean animals officially stop being treated as property. Judges and prosecutors could then consider a wealth of other factors—like intent, prior offenses, or even the animal’s own perspective—when assigning penalties. That could lead to harsher sentences for vicious offenders and a more humane overall verdict.
Industry Skepticism
Not everyone’s on board. The Korea Pet Industry Retail Association argues that the existing animal protection laws already do enough. Still, more than a decade of ease has left victims and allies feeling under‑protected.
With the public’s voice louder than ever, that’s the noise you’re hearing—the call for a legal upgrade that treats animals with the dignity they deserve.
<img alt="" data-caption="Cheon Chin-kyung, head of the Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA), shows a video of a dead dog found at a dog farm in Uijeongbu, in Seoul, South Korea, on Aug 13, 2021.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”48fcbcf8-66c7-40bc-94c7-e489188dc301″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/20210820_dog2_reuters.jpg”/>
South Korea’s Bold Move on Animal Rights
Kim Kyoung‑seo, the association’s director‑general, recently dropped a truth bomb:
“Revamping the rules will make it hard for people to adopt pets. That alone will shake the industry and rip through society.”
What the Amendment Actually Says
- A civil‑code rewrite that turns “pet” from just another item in paperwork to an acknowledged living being.
- Future plans for life‑insurance for animals and a new duty to rescue and report road‑kill are already sketched out.
Lawmaker Park Hong‑keun, chair of the animal‑welfare parliamentary forum, is practically already handing the bill a stamp of approval. “Everyone’s on board,” he said, “because animals deserve respect and harmony with humanity.”
Cheers from the Front Lines
Animal‑rights groups have thrown their arms in, but they’re not just happy about the legal tweak. They’re calling for:
- Stricter penalties for people who abuse, abandon, or torture pets.
- A pro‑ban on dog meat—yes, the whole dog‑meal debate gets a new chapter.
Cheon Chin‑kyung, head of Korea Animal Rights Advocates, summed up the sentiment: “Abuse, abandonment, and neglect for pets have not improved in our society.”
The Numbers that Break the Heart
Despite a slight dip last year, the official count from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency shows:
- Abandonment cases rose to 130,401 in 2020—plunging from 89,732 in 2016.
- South Korea hosts an estimated 6 million pet dogs and 2.6 million cats.
A Real‑World Story: Jin‑hui’s Rescue
Jin‑hui, a rescue dog whose name means “true light,” is now basking in the gentle sun at a shelter south of Seoul.
The tragedy? Her former owner, having lost his temper, told his kids to bury her alive. Kim Gea‑yeung, the shelter’s 55‑year‑old manager, recalls how they barely pulled Jin‑hui back from that dark fate. Unfortunately, the owner escaped punishment because the dog was deemed a mere property.
“Animals are certainly not objects,” Kim started, and the echoing truth is that South Korea is finally stepping up to acknowledge that.
Bottom Line
With new legal protections and a fresh societal conscience, South Korea is finally giving clawed, feathered, and scaled friends the recognition they deserve. It’s more than a policy shift—it’s a heartfelt re‑awakening to treat animals as partners, not property.
