[IssueLaw] "Does it Really Not Bite?" How to Wisely Handle Dog Bite Accidents

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun] Social conflicts surrounding dog bite incidents continue unabated. In particular, the damage caused by attacks from dangerous dogs is more severe, often escalating into lawsuits.

Dog bite incidents have been steadily increasing. According to the dog bite emergency transport statistics compiled by the Fire Agency, a total of 1,614 dog bite incidents occurred over the past five years. Since 2016, more than 2,000 cases have been consistently reported each year.

Medical expenses are also rising. According to the Insurance Development Institute, the average medical cost per victim for dog bite incidents during the same period reached 2 million KRW. The average medical cost increased by 61.4%, from 1.48 million KRW in 2014 to 2.39 million KRW in 2018.

Through the Asia Economy YouTube channel, the ‘Lee Park Choi Legal Center’ explored laws related to the Animal Protection Act and dog bite incidents. It also covered tips on how to report cases when bitten by a companion dog or when safety measures are not properly implemented.

Attorney Choi Eun-young, advisor to ‘Lee Park Choi,’ suggested, “As the number of companion dogs increases, owners need to provide sufficient training and responsible management.” She added, “People who are not owners should also have understanding and consideration toward companion dogs.”