South Korea to consider animals not ‘things’.

On July 19 2021, the South Korean Ministry of Justice made a pre-announcement to revise the Civil Act to introduce a clause declaring 'Animals are not things'. The new clause under Article 98.2 is as follows: (Legal status of animals) i) Animals are not things. ii) Regulations for things shall apply except for the cases with special regulations otherwise specified under the Act.

The amendment is still seeking approval by the South Korean National Assembly, likely during its regular session this month. If passed, South Korea would be recognised as one of a handful of countries to recognise animals as beings, with a right to protection, enhanced welfare and respect for life.

Statistics released by the police revealed a 1224.6% increase in animal abuse cases in a ten year period from 2010 to 2019.

Of the 3,360 people arrested for animal abuse-related offences dating between 2010 to 2019, only 10 of those defendants were successfully indicted and sentenced to imprisonment at trial. This is a wake-up call for South Korea's dire need to impose harsher sentences.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice recognised the need to grant legal status to animals to combat persisting issues such as animal abuse and abandonment, in addition to the widespread social consensus for animals to receive protection and respect as sentient beings and not just an 'object'. This came about following the increase of households living with companion animals over recent years. The amended legal provision will be introduced to reflect a change in the public perception towards the legal system and the treatment of animals alike.

"The revision will only call for means to regulate the industry by making it difficult to adopt pets, which will impact greatly not only the industry, but the society as a whole," said the the Korean Pet Industry Retail Association director general, Kim Kyoung-seo.

Animal rights groups welcomed the justice ministry's plan, while calling for stricter penalties for those who abandon or torture animals, as well as a ban on dog meat.

"Abuse, abandonment, and neglect for pets have not improved in our society," said Cheon Chin-kyung, head of Korea Animal Rights Advocates.

Courtesy of Amelia Wang.

Main Sources: World Animal News, Korean Herald, WiowNews