Korea to allow 5-year pet ownership ban for serious animal abusers

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Monday that courts will be able to bar people convicted of serious animal abuse from keeping pets for up to five years under an amended Animal Protection Act. The amendment will take effect in October next year. It also introduces measures on animal custody, pet care, breeding licenses and pet businesses posing as rescue shelters. The ministry said it would prepare implementation measures for the changes.

Animals whose owners are indicted for abuse may remain in protective custody until a final judgment is issued.

Owners who breach basic animal-care requirements, including using leashes shorter than two meters or failing to provide shelter from extreme temperatures, could face fines of up to 1 million won.

Failing to retrieve an animal from a boarding facility or veterinary clinic will count as abandonment.

Pet breeders must renew their licenses every five years, with inspections of their facilities and staffing.

Violations of restrictions on breeding or keeping older or sick dangerous dogs within designated premises could result in fines of up to 5 million won.

Published Oct 26, 2026 3:51 pm KST

A sheltered dog waits for a new family during an animal welfare pop-up event introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Oct. 2 in Seoul's Seongdong District ahead of the country's second Animal Protection Day on Oct. 4. Yonhap

Korea will allow courts to ban people convicted of serious animal abuse from keeping pets for up to five years under an amended Animal Protection Act, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Monday. The amendment will take effect in October next year.

Animals whose owners are indicted for abuse may remain in protective custody until a final judgment is issued. Offenders will also face restrictions on adopting animals from local governments.

Owners who violate basic animal care requirements could face fines of up to 1 million won ($760), including for keeping pets on leashes shorter than two meters or failing to provide shelter from extreme temperatures.

Failing to retrieve animals from boarding facilities or veterinary clinics will constitute abandonment. Local governments may also take protective custody of animals left unattended following disasters or the death or disappearance of their owners.

Pet breeders must renew their licenses every five years, subject to inspections of their facilities and staffing. Pet businesses posing as rescue shelters will face restrictions on using names or advertising that suggest they are animal shelters, a measure aimed at curbing the growing problem of “fake pet shops.”

Older or sick dangerous dogs may be exempted from neutering or temperament assessments, but will face restrictions on breeding and leaving designated premises. Violations could result in fines of up to 5 million won.

Local governments may record dog bite incidents in animal registration records.

“These amendments, including the ban on keeping animals, reflect longstanding requests from animal protection groups and those working in the field,” said Lee Yong-jik, director general of the ministry’s Animal Welfare Policy Bureau.

“Consultations with experts and relevant ministries helped us complete the legislation earlier than originally planned. We will prepare subordinate legislation and implementation measures so that the system works effectively in practice.”

农业、食品和农村事务部周一表示，根据修订后的《动物保护法》，法院将有权禁止严重虐待动物罪犯在长达五年内饲养宠物。该修正案将于明年10月生效。修正案还引入了关于动物监护、宠物照料、繁殖许可证以及冒充动物救助站的宠物经营场所等方面的措施。该部表示将制定实施细则。

主人因虐待动物被起诉的动物可能会被安置在保护性收容所，直到最终判决下达。

违反基本动物护理规定的主人，例如使用长度不足两米的牵引绳或未能为宠物提供抵御极端温度的庇护所，可能面临最高 100 万韩元的罚款。

未能从寄养机构或兽医诊所领回动物将被视为遗弃。

宠物繁殖者必须每五年更新一次许可证，并接受对其设施和人员配备的检查。

违反有关在指定场所饲养或繁殖年老体弱的危险犬只的限制规定，可能会被处以最高 500 万韩元的罚款。

发布于2026年10月26日下午3:51（韩国标准时间）

10月2日，在首尔城东区，韩国农林畜产食品部举办了一场动物福利快闪活动，一只待领养的狗狗正在等待新家。此次活动旨在为10月4日韩国第二个动物保护日预热。（韩联社）

韩国农林畜产食品部周一表示，根据修订后的《动物保护法》，韩国将允许法院禁止被判犯有严重虐待动物罪的人在长达五年的时间内饲养宠物。该修正案将于明年10月生效。

被控虐待动物的动物主人可能会被安置在保护性收容所，直至最终判决下达。此外，违法者从地方政府领养动物也将受到限制。

违反基本动物护理规定的宠物主人可能面临最高 100 万韩元（约合 760 美元）的罚款，包括用短于两米的牵引绳拴住宠物，或未能为宠物提供抵御极端温度的庇护所。

未能从寄养机构或兽医诊所领回动物将构成遗弃。地方政府也可在灾害发生后或主人死亡或失踪后，对无人照管的动物进行保护性监护。

宠物繁殖者必须每五年更新一次许可证，并接受对其设施和人员配备的检查。冒充动物救助站的宠物店将被限制使用暗示其为动物救助站的名称或广告，此举旨在遏制日益猖獗的“假宠物店”问题。

年老体弱的危险犬只可免于绝育或性情评估，但其繁殖和离开指定场所将受到限制。违规者最高可被处以500万韩元的罚款。

地方政府可能会将犬咬伤事件记录在动物登记记录中。

“这些修正案，包括禁止饲养动物，反映了动物保护团体和该领域从业人员长期以来的诉求，”农业部动物福利政策局局长李勇植表示。

“通过与专家和相关部门的磋商，我们比原计划提前完成了立法工作。我们将制定配套法规和实施细则，确保该体系在实践中有效运行。”