A dog owner whose dog led to the serious injury to a 60-year-old man was found guilty of gross negligence resulting in death and sentenced to a 4-year prison sentence.

Facts
  1. On December 24, 2025, the Korean Supreme Court’s Second Criminal Division (Chief Justice Park Young-jae) dismissed the defendant’s appeal and upheld a four-year prison sentence. The Defendantwas indicted on charges of violating the Korean Animal Protection Act and causing death through gross negligence ( (2025do17585).
  2. Defendant raised two dogs and kept them unleashed in his yard, and there was no fence at the residence.
  3. The Defendant’s dogs bit people four times in 2024. One dog bit the calf of a passerby near his residence; and both dogs bit a deliveryman multiple times on two separate occasions.
  4. In the latet matter, the dogs left the residence of the Defendant and traveled about 40 meters to a coastal road, where they attacked a 60-year-old man. The man was bitten multiple times on his face and body. He suffered serious injuries and required multiple surgeries. He also developed acute sepsis.
  5. The court of first instance sentenced the defendant to four years in prison and confiscated the two dogs. The High Court and Supreme Court of Korea dismissed the appeals by the Defendant.
Korean Court Judgment

The court of first, in short held that the minimum requirements of an owner of a dog that knows that his or her dog has bitten a prior person is to have a dog on a lease, in a cage or in a fenced in area and warning the public through signage noting No Entry – Beware of Dogs. The Defendant was deemed to have intentionally neglected these basic minimum measures leading to serious injuries to numerous victims.

by Sean Hayes

Sean Hayes is one of the most experienced foreign attorneys working in Korea and the first foreign attorney to work for the Korean court system. He leads IPG Legal’s international practice, representing multinational companies, SMEs, private investors, and entrepreneurs in complex corporate governance matters, shareholder disputes, regulatory investigations, and Korea–foreign cross-border transactions. Sean is rated a Top 100 lawyer in Korea, and his firm is rated a leading dispute resolution law firm.

IPG Legal is a leading international law firm, known for providing nuanced, practical, and business-focused legal solutions for foreign companies and individuals operating in Korea. The law firm combines senior Korean and foreign-trained attorneys, retired judges, and retired government attorneys with deep experience in corporate law, litigation, arbitration, FDI, employment, and regulatory compliance. IPG Legal is frequently retained to handle high-stakes corporate governance disputes, criminal investigations, employment law matters, and complex commercial matters. It is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, FTSE 100, global brands, and fast-growing enterprises for its hands-on advocacy and ability to deliver results in Korea’s challenging legal environment.

Sean’s profile may be found at Sean C. Hayes. To schedule a call with Sean Hayes, please click: Schedule a Call with Sean Hayes.