Eve, the pet dog thrown off a balcony by an elementary school student in Songdo, Incheon, shown while still alive. Captured from KAWA website

Multiple incidents involving elementary school students killing animals have been reported in recent days.

Two 12-year-olds are accused of beating a kitten to death, and a 9-year-old is accused of killing a dog by throwing it off a balcony, shocking the public and prompting animal rights groups to urge police to investigate.

On its website, the Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA) shared Wednesday details of animal abuse cases in Daejeon and Songdo, Incheon on social media, calling for increased awareness about juvenile animal cruelty.

According to the association, two 12-year-old elementary students in Daejeon allegedly unlawfully entered a classmate's house and tortured and killed the family's pet kitten.

The incident was reported by a parent, who said, "I came home earlier than usual and found two unfamiliar students in the house. They claimed to be (my child's) classmates, but it was unclear how they got inside."

The parent described the scene, saying that there was animal excrement all over the room.

"The kitten, who hadn't even been named yet, lay limp on the floor with its tongue out. It appeared to be dead," the parent said. "My child's classmates took turns kicking the cat, sitting on it and hitting its forehead repeatedly, ultimately leading to its death."

It has been alleged that two 12-year-old elementary school students in Daejeon beat a kitten to death. The photo shows the kitten while it was still alive. Captured from KAWA website

9-year-old throws dog off balcony

In Songdo, Incheon, a 9-year-old student allegedly threw a friend's pet dog off a balcony, resulting in its death.

The 9-year-old's parent recounted, "Eve, our youngest pet, was nearing her first birthday. My child's friend came over to play as usual, and suddenly Eve was nowhere to be found."

The parent continued, "After searching for a while, the friend said the dog was in the flowerbed. Rushing downstairs, we found Eve lying there, whimpering. She died after vomiting blood on the way to the vet."

When asked, the friend admitted to throwing Eve off the balcony but could not explain why. "We lost Eve tragically, and all that remains is sorrow," they said.

KAWA is calling for a thorough investigation and appropriate measures in response to cases of animal cruelty committed by minors. Captured from KAWA's website

Clear crime, even if perpetrator is juvenile

"Juvenile animal cruelty is becoming increasingly serious, yet our society often overlooks it, especially when the perpetrators are under 14 years old," said an official from KAWA. "These cases are frequently not investigated due to their age, and there is no dedicated agency to handle them. Animal cruelty is a clear crime, regardless of the perpetrator's age."

The organization emphasized the severity of the issue, warning that early experiences of animal cruelty could lead to broader and more severe criminal behavior.

They have submitted complaints to local police stations to ensure active investigations are conducted.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.