In South Korea, despite growing public outrage over animal cruelty, the judicial system continues to impose relatively light penalties on offenders. Recent cases highlight this trend, such as a soldier fined only about $1,050 after torturing a cat, and a farm owner receiving a mitigated one-year prison sentence for neglect leading to horse deaths. Legal experts and activists criticize courts for leniency, often citing factors like lack of prior convictions or volunteer work at shelters to reduce sentences, even in severe abuse cases. Formal indictments remain rare, with most cases resulting in fines or dropped charges rather than prison time.

Efforts to standardize sentencing through the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission’s 2023 guidelines have not significantly increased punishment severity, as these guidelines are based on historically lenient rulings. Critics argue that such measures may perpetuate the problem by allowing courts to continue favoring mitigating factors that do not adequately reflect the gravity of animal abuse. Advocates call for stricter guidelines and a judicial focus on genuine recognition of animal welfare to ensure more meaningful justice for animal cruelty cases in Korea.