Legal Responsibilities of Pet Owners    

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The Korean government adopted new rules regarding pet owner responsibility and animal cruelty when they amended the Korean Animal Protection Law in 2007. The government was given a year to work out the details and inform the public. The rules are scheduled to take effect in 2009.

Identification Tags for dog: This rule was adopted in January 08 but the public was given a one-year grace period before fines would be imposed. Dog owners are now required to ensure that their dogs have name tags that include the owner's name, address and phone number. Pet dogs found outside, even on a leash, wtihout nametags will earn their owner a W200,000 fine.

Registering dogs with local government: The new regulations also required that dogs be registered with the local government as a means of reducing the number of abandoned pets. Check with your vet to find out how to go about getting the registration done. Although the government original indicated there would be a fine of W300,000 for failure to register, the process has been purely voluntary. In June 2011, the National Assembly voted on amendments to the Animal Protection Laws including one that will require dog owners to register their ownership with their local governments from 2013.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags/chips will be mandatory as of April 2009. Local governments are conducting some limited tagging programs now. The RFID chips are 8mm long and 2mm in diameter. They contain general information about the animal, as well as its owners name and contact details, and should be injected into your pet’s skin by a veterinarian. FYI: The RFID tag systems is the responsibility of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (ATS), which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy.

Tag Regulation in Seoul: In November 2008, the media reported that the Seoul Metropolitan Government had issued an ordinance that requires dog owners to attach a 15-digit ID tag to their animals. The electronic ID can either be implanted into the back of the dog's neck (W8,000) or worn as an electronic collar (W15,000) and must be put on at a pet shop or animal hospital between 1 and 31 January 2010. From 15 February on, owners without an electronic identification tag on their pet will be fined up to W100,000. 

Leash regulations: Dogs must be on a leash when in public places. Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to W100,000.

Poop & Scoop rules have also been adopted. Owners who do not clean up after their pets are liable to a fine of up to W100,000.


photo from www.worthing.gov.uk