Politics · South Korea · 1 day ago
South Korea weighs stronger checks to prevent pet abandonment
In South Korea, police have sent several people to prosecutors over abandoning pets or misleading people and shelters about animals in their care.
In one case, a dog was handed to a shelter as if it were lost and was later euthanized.
In another, a person who adopted a cat allegedly sent the rescuer a photo of a different cat before abandoning the adopted animal.
South Korea’s animal protection law bans abandonment and requires owners to care for their animals, but critics say it does too little to prevent irresponsible adoption.
A bill introduced in July would require people acquiring a pet to complete care and management education, and would limit transfers to those who complete it.
The proposal also calls for written contracts when pets are transferred for payment, but it is still pending in parliament.
Experts have also proposed tracking pet registration and ownership changes, and considering rules that would allow adoption only for people who meet certain conditions.
South Korean experts are calling for stronger safeguards at the adoption stage to prevent people from abandoning pets.
Police have referred several people for alleged abandonment or deception involving animals they had cared for or adopted.
A bill requiring pre-adoption education is pending in the National Assembly.
Proposals also include tracking pet ownership records and limiting adoption to people who meet certain requirements.
- Who
- South Korean experts and animal-rights advocates are urging stronger adoption safeguards. Police have referred several people over alleged pet abandonment.
- What
- South Korea is weighing measures such as mandatory pre-adoption education and adoption eligibility requirements.
- When
- The article was published on Oct. 10, 2026. The reported referrals and proposals took place in the preceding months.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Advocates say existing protections do not do enough to prevent irresponsible adoption and pet abandonment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
To reduce abandoned animals, what is needed is not simply to increase adoption but to create institutional safeguards that make responsible adoption possible.
It is necessary to consider introducing mandatory pre-adoption education and an adoption eligibility system allowing adoption only when certain requirements are met.
Rep. Oh Se-hee introduced a bill that would require pre-adoption education and restrict transfers to people who have not completed it.
A National Assembly meeting discussed proposals to prevent pet abandonment, including updating registration information and tracking ownership history.
Police referred a person accused of abandoning an adopted cat after allegedly misleading its rescuer.
Police referred a person accused of passing off a pet dog as a stray and handing it to an animal shelter.
- Pending bill
- Would require pre-adoption education for people taking ownership of pets
- Bill sponsor
- Rep. Oh Se-hee
- Cat case
- Police referral on Sept. 28, 2026
- Dog case
- Police referral on Sept. 29, 2026
- National Assembly meeting
- Held Sept. 9, 2026
Sources
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