(Revised, 2004-02-09 Legislation No. #07167)

Article 1.  Purpose

The purpose of this law is to protect the lives and safety of animals by providing the necessary measures for the adequate protection and management of the animals including prohibiting the cruelty to animals, and ultimately to cultivate the Korean people’s emotions such as respect for lives.


Article 2.  Definitions

Terms used in this law are defined as follows:

1. “Animals” mean cattle, horse, pig, dog, cat, rabbit, chicken, duck, goat, sheep, deer, fox, mink and other animals as specified by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.
2. “Caretaker” means a person(s) who raises, manages, or protects the animal for the owner of the animal.


Article 3.  Protection of Animals

Anyone who raises, manages, or protects animals should make an effort to provide an environment for the animals to live normally while keeping their natural traits as much as the circumstances allow.


Article 4.  Animal Protection Campaigns

① The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry may encourage the local government entities or NGO groups to conduct the Campaigns for Animal Protection (will be referred to as “Animal Protection Campaigns” hereinafter) and other related activities in order to promote the idea of Animal Protection.
② The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry may provide necessary support to the local government entities or NOG groups for their Animal Protection Campaigns and other related activities in accordance with the provision 1 of Article 4.


Article 5.  Proper Care to Raise and Manage Animals

① Owner or Caretaker of animals shall make efforts to provide animals with adequate amount of food and water, exercise, rest and sleep.
② Owner or Caretaker of animals shall provide immediate medical attention and necessary treatment when animals are diseased or injured.
③ Owner or Caretaker of animals shall make efforts to take necessary measures for animals to adopt themselves to the new environment when moved to a different kennel or when keeping wild animals.


Article 6.  Prohibition of Cruelty to Animals

① No one shall kill animals without any reasonable cause, or kill in a cruel manner, or by a manner provoking the disgust of others.
② No one shall cause pain or injure animals without any reasonable cause.
③ Owner or Caretaker of animals shall not abandon animals without any reasonable cause.


Article 7.  Care for Abandoned Animals

① A City Mayor, A County Chief or A District Mayor (will be referred to as “Mayor, County Chief” hereinafter) shall take necessary measures to protect and manage (will be referred to as “Protective Measures” hereinafter) the animals in accordance with the provisions in the Article 5, when stray or abandoned animals are found in public places such as streets or parks.
② Mayor, County Chief shall immediately post a public notice when a Protective Measures are taken for animals in accordance with the provision 1 of Article 7 so that the owner or caretaker of animals will be aware that their animals are under Protective Measures.
③ City, County, or District (will be referred to as “City, County” hereinafter) will acquire ownership of the animals under Protective Measures when the owner or the caretaker of the animals are not known even after 1 month of period from the posting date of public notification, regardless of the provision of the Article 12 in Lost Property Law and provision of the Article 253 in Civil Law.
④ Mayor, County Chief can donate the animals under their ownership in accordance with the provision 3 of Article 7 to a zoo(s), an animal lover(s), an animal protection group(s), or a scientific research center(s).
⑤ Mayor, County Chief can collect the expenses occurred during the Protective Measures from the owner or the caretaker of the animals.
⑥ Implementation Method of the Protective Measures in accordance with the provision 1 of Article 7 and Calculation of Expenses in accordance with the provision 5 of Article 7 and other ways of Protective Measures will be legislated as a local ordinance of Seoul City, Metropolitan Cities, or a Province.


Article 8.  Methods of Animal Slaughter

When it is inevitable to kill an animal(s), the methods of animal slaughter should not cause pain to the animal(s) as much as possible.


Article 9.  Surgery of Animals

A person(s) who carries out a surgical process such as castration, de-horning, tail docking of animals shall follow the veterinary methods.


Article 10.  Animal Experiments

① Animal Experiments for educational purposes, academic research, and other scientific studies shall be carried out using methods that do not cause pain as much as possible.
② A person(s) who conducted animal experiments described in the provision 1 of Article 10 shall examine the subject animals immediately after the conclusion of the experiments. The subject animals shall be put to death by a painless method as soon as possible when the animals are determined to be irrecoverable or to live in continuous pain.


Article 11.  Exclusions

The provision 1 and 2 of Article 6 shall not be applied in any of the following cases: < revised 1996.8.8, 1997.12.13>

1. Slaughtering Animals for human consumption in accordance with the provision 1 of Article 2 in the [Livestock Product Processing Law].
2. Hunting Animals in accordance with the [Wildlife Animals & Plants Protection Law].
3. Slaughtering Animals to acquire fur or leather for the industrial use.
4. Cutting horns or collecting blood to use as medicine or for other industrial purposes.
5. When taking preventive Measures if animals are threat to the lives, bodies, property of people.
6. Other cases specified by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry as inappropriate to apply the provision 1 and 2 of Article 6.


Article 12.  Penalty and Fine

Anyone violating the provision of Article 6 shall be subject of a fine up to 200,000 won or detention.


Addendum

This law shall come into force on and after one month from the day of promulgation.