The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Oct. 27 officially announced an amendment to the Animal Protection Act. (Rural Development Administration)

By Lee Ji Yae

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has passed an amendment to the Animal Protection Act to prevent recurrences of abuse and strengthen welfare for animals.

The gist of the revision is a ban on animal ownership for anyone committing animal abuse. Courts can also ban those guilty of serious offenses like killing or injuring animals from keeping them for up to five years.

Those violating pet care and management requirements can face a fine of up to KRW 1 million, meaning stronger penalties for improper practices such as the use of a leash under 2 m long or failure to provide adequate resting areas resistant to extreme heat or cold. The changes are expected to improve gaps in the system, under which abuse was generally recognized only if an animal was killed or injured.

The amendment also clarifies the scope of animal abandonment, expands the range of those eligible for rescue and protection and sets the legal basis for regulating new types of pet stores.

The revision will take effect next year on Oct. 28.

"The measures in this amendment -- including a ban on keeping animals -- reflects longstanding requests from animal protection groups and those in the field," said Lee Yong-jik, director general of the ministry's Animal Welfare Policy Bureau said. "We will make every effort to prepare the necessary subordinate legislation and implementation to ensure the system's effective operation."

ljyhwa@korea.kr