Animal rights activists hold a rally calling on the government to shut down factory-like facilities for breeding dogs nationwide in central Seoul, in this March 23, 2023, On Tuesday, members of the Sentencing Commission decided to draw up guidelines on penalties for animal abusers. Newsis

The Korean Supreme Court's Sentencing Commission will draw up guidelines on penalties for animal abusers in an effort to gain public trust.

At Tuesday's meeting, members of the commission agreed to create clear guidelines to reduce confusion regarding varying sentences in similar cases of mistreating animals.

For example, the Supreme Court reportedly upheld a guilty verdict last month for a vet who was fined 1 million won ($720) for hitting a dog after it repeatedly bit the vet in Ansan in 2021. In another case, the Incheon District Court fined a man 2 million won on May 21 for killing two dogs by drowning them in a hot pot in 2022.

Under the Animal Protection Law, those who abused an animal resulting in its death could face up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 30 million won. But, in most cases, violators get away with a slap on the wrist in the form of a fine, with judges issuing inconsistent penalties in similar cases.

Aware of public criticisms, the commission is moving to set standards, which judges can reference in determining sentence severity. As the Constitution guarantees the independence of each judge, they can disregard the guidelines if they wish. But the top court requires judges to state their reasons if they issue sentences not in alignment with outlined recommendations.

The commission said the new guidelines will include rules on repeated violators of the animal law, which suggests toughened sentences for such abusers.

According to data from the National Policy Agency, animal abuse cases have significantly increased in number in recent years, from 69 in 2010 to 1,237 in 2022.

A poll conducted last year by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shows that more than 25 percent of Koreans, aged between 20 and 64, raise at least one domestic pet.