Animal abusers face up to 5-year ban on animal ownership... Amendment to Animal Protection Act passed by Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

South Korea's National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee has passed a bill to introduce an "animal care prohibition order". The bill, which was co-sponsored by several lawmakers including 박홍근, 한정애, 송재봉, 조은희, 김건, and 한지아, allows courts to impose a 1-5 year ban on animal care for those deemed to be at risk of reoffending against animals.

Those who violate the ban can face up to 1 year in prison or a 10 million KRW fine, and the local government will take ownership of the animal. The bill has been welcomed by animal welfare groups and lawmakers, who say it addresses a long-standing gap in South Korea's animal protection laws.