Verdict in the Pasha Case: What the Lack of Jail Time Reveals About Animal Cruelty Sentencing in South Korea

Learn more and take action: https://koreandogs.org/verdict-pasha-case/​

Sharing for Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE)

Verdict in the Pasha Case
Today, the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court sentenced the defendant—who tied his dog to an electric bicycle and dragged it to death—to six months in prison, suspended for two years, along with 200 hours of community service and 40 hours of mandatory animal cruelty prevention education.

 Legal Interpretation: A six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, means the defendant will not serve jail time unless he commits another offense during the two-year suspension. Essentially, it functions as probation rather than actual imprisonment.

Case Summary
On August 22 of last year, during extreme summer heat, the defendant tied his large dog, Pasha, to an electric bicycle and rode along the Cheonancheon walking trail at 10–15 km/h for over 30 minutes. Pasha ran while bleeding, eventually collapsing with foam at his mouth.

Bystanders witnessed the incident and tried to intervene. Instead of providing urgent aid, the defendant argued with them and failed to take immediate rescue measures. Pasha ultimately died.

Key Findings of the Court
The court determined:

The defendant showed no genuine remorse.
He engaged in verbal disputes with bystanders instead of rescuing the dog.
His actions directly caused Pasha’s death.
Eventual intent (dolus eventualis) was recognized.
However, the court concluded that there was insufficient evidence of direct, deliberate intent to kill. Considering the defendant’s lack of prior criminal record and strong social ties, the court imposed a suspended sentence.

A Sentence We Cannot Accept
The court acknowledged the lack of remorse, the failure to rescue, and eventual intent. Yet:

Is this sentence adequate for a life taken with such cruelty?
Should the death of an animal result in a suspended sentence simply because the perpetrator is a first-time offender or “well-connected”?
If the victim had been human, would the same leniency have applied?
Today’s ruling confirms that animal abuse is a crime and that eventual intent can be legally recognized. But it also highlights the current limitations of animal cruelty sentencing standards in South Korea.

Pasha’s story does not end here. We will demand stronger accountability. We will push for change. We begin again—in the name of Pasha’s Law.

UPDATED PETITION (2/13/2026): 

Pasha’s Death Demands Justice: End Impunity for Animal Cruelty in South Korea

To:

The Office of the President of the Republic of Korea
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Animal Welfare Division)
The National Police Agency
Supreme Prosecutor’s Office
Cheonan City Government and Cheonan City Council
Dear President Lee and Esteemed Officials,

I write to you with a heavy heart and deep outrage over the horrific abuse and preventable death of a dog named Pasha—a case that has laid bare the failures of South Korea’s system to protect companion animals and hold abusers accountable.

I urge you to watch these videos to understand the severity of Pasha’s case: https://youtube.com/shorts/bLViGrDUA2U
https://www.youtube.com/live/4b8gEVxE_V4

Pasha, a Border Collie, was tied to an electric bicycle and dragged at 10–15 km/h for more than 30 minutes in sweltering summer heat. He collapsed, bleeding, crying out in pain, and foaming at the mouth—yet his owner did nothing, taking no action to seek emergency care or save him.

Pasha’s suffering was witnessed by passersby, yet despite reports to the authorities, he received no urgent care. His life ended under the indifferent gaze of the person who should have protected him. Even worse, authorities returned his body to the abuser, destroying critical evidence.

The Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court responded to this unthinkable cruelty with six months in prison, suspended for two years, along with community service and mandatory education. In effect, the perpetrator will not serve any jail time unless he commits another offense during the suspension period—meaning he faces no real punishment for taking a life. The court acknowledged the defendant’s lack of remorse, his failure to rescue, and his eventual intent to harm, yet leniency was granted because he was a “first-time offender” with “strong social ties.”

This verdict is unacceptable. A life brutally ended deserves far more than a probationary sentence. If Pasha had been a human child, would such leniency have been considered justice? The message this ruling sends is clear: in South Korea, extreme cruelty to animals can go unpunished.

I urge the South Korean government to act decisively and urgently:

1. Strengthen the Animal Protection Act so that severe acts of cruelty carry meaningful criminal penalties, including mandatory imprisonment.
2. Hold abusers fully accountable, ensuring that cruelty is met with swift and proportionate punishment.
3. Investigate and discipline officials who fail to enforce the law, obstruct rescues, or allow abuse to continue unchecked.
4. Support animal welfare organizations with the legal authority and resources to intervene in emergencies and prevent cruelty.

An online petition is now active, calling for your immediate action: https://chng.it/2jwfTXrzhY Pasha’s death is a stain on our society. If we allow this injustice to stand, we condone cruelty and send a message that taking an innocent life carries no real consequence. South Korea has the opportunity—and the duty—to protect its most vulnerable companions, punish cruelty, and reform a system that has failed Pasha.

Justice must be served. Pasha’s suffering cannot be forgotten.

UPDATED PETITION IN KOREAN (2/13/2026):

파샤의 죽음: 동물학대에 대한 무관용과 정의 실현을 촉구합니다

수신:

대한민국 대통령실
농림축산식품부 동물복지정책과
경찰청
대검찰청
천안시청 및 천안시의회
이재명 대통령님 및 관계자 여러분께,

저는 강아지 파샤가 당한 끔찍한 학대와 처절한 죽음에 대해 깊은 분노와 참담함을 느끼며 이 글을 씁니다. 이 사건은 대한민국이 반려동물을 보호하고 학대자를 책임지게 하는 시스템의 심각한 실패를 여실히 드러냈습니다.

파샤 사건의 참상을 이해하시려면 아래 영상을 확인해 주십시오:
https://youtube.com/shorts/bLViGrDUA2U
https://www.youtube.com/live/4b8gEVxE_V4

파샤는 콜리견으로, 전기자전거에 묶인 채 시속 10–15km로 30분 이상 끌려가며, 뜨거운 여름 햇살 아래 극심한 고통을 겪었습니다. 그는 쓰러지고, 피를 흘리며 고통스러운 비명을 질렀지만, 주인은 단 한 번도 긴급 치료를 시도하거나 살리려는 행동을 하지 않았습니다.

목격자들이 있었음에도 불구하고, 신고 후에도 당국은 긴급 구조를 하지 않았습니다. 그의 삶은 보호해야 할 사람이 무관심하게 바라보는 가운데 끝났습니다. 더 충격적인 사실은, 당국이 그의 시신을 학대자에게 돌려보내 중요한 증거를 파괴했다는 점입니다.

대전지방법원 천안지원은 이 상상할 수 없는 잔혹행위에 대해 피고인에게 징역 6개월에 집행유예 2년, 사회봉사 200시간, 동물학대 예방 교육 40시간 수강을 선고했습니다. 그러나 이 판결로 인해 피고인은 실제로 단 한순간도 구금되지 않으며, 잔인한 동물학대 행위에 대한 실질적인 책임을 사실상 지지 않게 되었습니다.

법원은 피고인의 반성 없음, 구조 의무 불이행, 그리고 미필적 고의를 인정했음에도 불구하고, “초범”이며 “사회적 유대관계가 높다”는 이유로 관대한 판결을 내렸습니다.

이 판결은 결코 받아들일 수 없습니다. 잔혹하게 끝난 한 생명은 단순한 집행유예 이상의 엄중한 책임과 처벌을 요구합니다. 만약 파샤가 인간 아이였다면, 이러한 관대한 판결이 과연 정의로 받아들여졌겠습니까? 이번 판결이 우리 사회에 던지는 메시지는 분명합니다. 대한민국에서는 극심한 동물학대조차 실질적인 처벌로 이어지지 않을 수 있다는 것입니다.

저는 대한민국 정부가 즉각적이고 단호한 조치를 취할 것을 강력히 촉구합니다.

1. 동물보호법 강화: 심각한 학대 행위에 대해 실질적인 형사처벌과 의무적 징역형이 적용되도록 법을 개정·강화할 것.
2. 학대자 책임 강화: 잔혹한 학대 행위에 대해 신속하고 엄정한 수사가 이루어지고, 그에 상응하는 법적 책임을 철저히 물을 것.
3. 공무원·경찰 책임 확보: 법 집행을 소홀히 하거나 구조를 방해한 공무원 및 경찰에 대해 철저한 조사와 엄중한 징계를 실시할 것.
4. 동물권 단체 제도적 지원: 긴급 구조와 학대 예방 활동이 방해받지 않도록 법적 권한을 명확히 부여하고, 필요한 제도적·재정적 지원을 제공할 것.

정부의 신속하고 단호한 대응을 촉구하는 온라인 청원이 현재 진행 중입니다: https://chng.it/2jwfTXrzhY

파샤의 죽음은 우리 사회의 양심에 깊은 상처를 남겼습니다. 이 부당한 판결을 방치한다면, 우리는 잔혹함을 묵인하고 책임 없는 폭력을 용인하는 사회라는 메시지를 스스로에게 그리고 세계에 보내게 될 것입니다. 대한민국은 가장 취약한 생명을 보호하고, 학대를 엄중히 처벌하며, 파샤에게 실패한 이 제도를 바로잡아야 할 책임이 있습니다.

정의는 반드시 실현되어야 합니다. 파샤의 고통은 결코 잊혀져서는 안 됩니다.

감사합니다.

 

Find more ways to help: https://koreandogs.org/pasha/

Justice for Pasha: Brutally Dragged for Miles, Screaming in Agony, and Left to Die a Cruel, Bloody Death in Cheonan

Watch this: https://youtube.com/shorts/bLViGrDUA2U

 

Unimaginable cruelty cannot go unanswered. Act now.

 

A Horrific Tragedy Fueled by Indifference

“A Blood-Stained Road, and a Collie Left Behind—The Story of Pasha”
Pasha was a Border Collie.
He was dragged for several kilometers, choking, bleeding, and screaming in pain.
Eventually, he collapsed—too weak to run any further.
Even then, his body was dragged across the pavement, leaving a long, visible trail of blood stretching for kilometers.
When the electric bicycle that had been pulling him finally stopped, Pasha’s body lay motionless—soaked in his own blood.
And his abuser?
He didn’t even get off the bike. He just stared down at Pasha as if nothing had happened.

Pasha Could Have Been Saved

The first report was made at 7:57 AM.
Police arrived 15 minutes later—but Pasha was left on the street for a full hour without receiving help.
He had been screaming. That means he was still breathing. Still alive.
But the crucial golden hour—when he could have been saved—was lost due to indifference, ignorance, and inaction.
As residents gathered and witnessed the horrific scene, the abuser became aggressive.
Instead of rushing Pasha to a veterinary hospital, police sent him to an animal shelter.
Despite his critical condition, no emergency medical care was provided.
No one acted urgently. No one truly tried to save him.

Pasha Was Treated Like Trash

When the shelter veterinarian finally examined Pasha, he was on the brink of death.
Yet even then, authorities ordered his body to be returned to the abuser.
Pasha was cremated by the very person who tortured him.
He wasn’t treated as a victim.
He wasn’t treated as a life.
He was disposed of like garbage, and not even preserved as evidence of a crime.

His Puppy Is Still in the Abuser’s Hands

Pasha’s young pup is still with the abuser.
But right after Pasha died, the abuser quickly sent the puppy away—its current whereabouts unknown.
When the animal rights group CARE received the report, they identified the abuser within half a day and went to the scene.
By the time they arrived, police had already dismissed the case, saying, “That dog is dead,” and the puppy had just been hidden away by the abuser.
CARE urgently requested emergency protection for the puppy, contacting the Animal Protection Team at Cheonan City Hall.
But the officials showed no understanding of the Animal Protection Law—and no willingness to act.
Despite being legally responsible for preventing harm and ensuring animal safety, Cheonan City Hall didn’t even try to see the puppy or speak to the abuser.
They wasted the entire day, did nothing, and left.

Lies, Avoidance, and Abuse of Power

Local officials and police repeatedly lied and dodged responsibility.
Officers from Shinan Police Station went even further—interfering with CARE’s rescue efforts, threatening and mocking activists instead of helping them.
Today, Pasha’s puppy is likely still in the hands of the abuser.

A System That Protects Abusers

The head of Cheonan City’s Animal Protection Team acted worse than the abuser himself.
This wasn’t just incompetence—it was complicity in animal cruelty.
Residents had filed reports for years about animals at that home.
There were multiple chances to intervene, but every time, Pasha and his son were ignored.
Other dogs from the same abuser have quietly disappeared.
Years of abuse were allowed to continue—and it finally ended in death.

And Yet—Nothing Has Been Done

Pasha’s son remains unrescued.
The authorities claim they “can’t do anything” because the abuser refuses to cooperate.
They sat in their air-conditioned cars all day, too afraid to confront the abuser.
They even lied, saying they were returning to the abuser’s apartment—but instead went to a police station, threatening to charge the activists with “stalking” and fled the scene.
The Shinan Police Substation(Cheonan Dongnam Police Station) turned a blind eye to a horrific case of cruelty—and deliberately silenced public outcry.

•   Who killed Pasha?
•   Who is allowing his puppy to remain with the abuser?
•   It’s time to demand justice.

CARE Demands the Following:

1. Immediate rescue and protection of the surviving animal
2. A thorough investigation and criminal prosecution of the abuser
3. A full inquiry and disciplinary action against police and public officials for obstruction and negligence
4. Improvements to animal abuse response protocols and strengthened legal protections
5. Legal protection and support for rescue activities by animal welfare organizations
6. Legislation to permanently strip animal abusers of their right to own animals

Submit the e-People Petition! 

TAKE ACTION – CALL TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY:

Chungnam Provincial Police Agency
• Audit Office: 041-336-2117
• Inspection Division: 041-336-2118
• Civil Complaints Office: 041-336-2124

Cheonan City Hall
• Public Relations Office: 041-521-2080
• Inspector General: 041-521-2040

Cheonan City Council
• Chairperson Kim Haeng-geum: 010-2315-4762
• Vice Chairperson Ryu Je-guk: 010-5432-2401

PETITION: 

Urgent Action Needed to Address Animal Cruelty and Governmental Negligence in the Case of Pasha

To: The Office of the President of the Republic of Korea
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Animal Welfare Division)
The National Police Agency
Supreme Prosecutor’s Office
Cheonan City Government and Cheonan City Council

To: President Lee Jae-Myung and the Government of the Republic of Korea

We, the undersigned, submit this petition to express our deep outrage and sorrow over the brutal abuse and tragic death of a dog named Pasha, and the continued failure of the Korean authorities to protect his surviving puppy. This case, which occurred in Cheonan, is not only a heartbreaking example of animal cruelty but also a glaring indictment of systemic inaction, negligence, and complicity by local government officials and law enforcement.

We urge you to watch these videos to understand the severity of Pasha’s case: https://youtube.com/shorts/bLViGrDUA2U
https://www.youtube.com/live/4b8gEVxE_V4

Pasha, a Border Collie, was dragged behind an electric bicycle for several kilometers—his body battered, bloodied, and choked as he screamed in pain. Eventually, he collapsed, but was still dragged across the pavement, leaving a long trail of blood along the road. The abuser, Pasha’s owner, made no effort to stop the violence, and even after Pasha fell motionless, he remained seated on the bicycle, coldly watching the dying dog.

Despite the horrific nature of this crime, Pasha could have been saved. A report was filed at 7:57 a.m., and police arrived approximately 15 minutes later. However, Pasha was left on the roadside without help for nearly an hour. Instead of being taken to an emergency veterinary facility, he was sent to an animal shelter, where no immediate care was administered. By the time a veterinarian saw him, he was on the brink of death. Even then, authorities made the unconscionable decision to return his body to the abuser, who then cremated him—destroying key evidence in what should have been a criminal investigation.

Pasha was not the only victim. His young puppy was also in the abuser’s custody. After Pasha died, the puppy was quickly sent away and hidden. When the animal welfare group CARE arrived on the scene, they had already identified the abuser and requested emergency protective custody for the remaining puppy. However, Cheonan City Hall officials showed a total lack of understanding of their legal duties under the Animal Protection Act and refused to take meaningful action. They failed to visit the abuser, did not verify the puppy’s welfare, and left the scene after wasting an entire day without intervening. Officials from the Shinan Police Substation (Cheonan Dongnam Police Station) not only failed to enforce the law but actively obstructed rescue efforts, mocked activists, and threatened them with legal action instead of fulfilling their responsibilities.

This is not simply a case of bureaucratic failure; it is complicity in cruelty. Numerous reports about this abuser had been submitted over the years. Residents had long voiced concerns about animals disappearing from the same household. Despite multiple warning signs and opportunities to act, authorities allowed the abuse to continue—until it ended in death. The systems meant to protect animals and enforce the law were not only inactive but appeared to shield the abuser while punishing those seeking justice.

Therefore, we call on the Korean government to take immediate, concrete action in response to this tragedy. We demand the rescue and protection of Pasha’s surviving puppy, a full criminal investigation and prosecution of the abuser, and a thorough inquiry into the misconduct of local officials and police officers involved. Disciplinary measures must be taken against those who obstructed rescue efforts and failed to carry out their legal duties. Additionally, we urge the government to reform and strengthen the enforcement of the Animal Protection Act, ensure better training and accountability among local authorities, and implement legislation that permanently strips animal abusers of the right to own animals. Finally, we call for the establishment of formal protections and support for animal welfare organizations so they can operate without interference or threat.

Pasha’s death has shaken the conscience of a nation—and the world. If no action is taken, it sends a devastating message: that cruelty is tolerated, and justice is optional. We cannot allow this. The Republic of Korea now has both the opportunity and the obligation to respond with integrity, reform, and compassion.

An online petition is now active, calling for your immediate action: https://chng.it/2jwfTXrzhY

Sincerely,

PETITION IN KOREAN:

파샤 사건: 동물학대와 공권력 직무유기에 대한 긴급 대응 촉구

수신: 이재명 대통령 및 대한민국 정부
농림축산식품부 동물복지정책과
경찰청
대검찰청
천안시청 및 천안시의회

대한민국 대통령 이재명 귀하 및 관계자 여러분께

우리는 충청남도 천안에서 발생한 강아지 ‘파샤’의 끔찍한 학대와 비극적인 죽음, 그리고 여전히 학대자의 손에 남아 있는 강아지에 대해 어떠한 보호 조치도 취하지 않은 국가 기관들의 무책임하고 구조적인 실패에 깊은 분노와 참담함을 느끼며 이 청원을 올립니다.

이 사건은 단순한 동물학대가 아닙니다. 공권력의 무능과 무관심, 그리고 동물학대에 대한 공범적 침묵이 한 생명을 죽음으로 내몬 참혹한 비극입니다.

파샤 사건의 참혹한 현실을 직접 확인해 주십시오:
https://youtube.com/shorts/bLViGrDUA2U
https://www.youtube.com/live/4b8gEVxE_V4

파샤는 콜리견으로, 수 킬로미터 동안 끌려가며 목이 졸리고 피를 흘리면서 고통스러운 비명을 질렀습니다. 기진맥진한 파샤는 더 이상 버티지 못하고 쓰러졌고, 바닥에 널브러진 채 끌려가면서 남긴 피 자국은 수 킬로미터에 걸쳐 길게 이어졌습니다. 한참을 달리던 전기자전거는 마침내 멈췄습니다. 피로 흥건한 파샤의 몸은 바닥에 널브러져 있었지만, 학대자인 주인은 자전거에서 내리지도 않은 채 대수롭지 않게 바라볼 뿐이었습니다.

신고는 오전 7시 57분에 접수되었고, 약 15분 뒤 경찰이 현장에 도착했지만, 파샤는 거의 한 시간 동안 도로 위에 방치되었습니다. 긴급 치료가 필요한 상황임에도 동물병원이 아닌 보호소로 이송되었고, 그곳에서도 응급 처치는 전혀 이루어지지 않았습니다. 보호소 수의사가 파샤를 확인했을 때는 이미 숨이 멎어가고 있었습니다. 그럼에도 당국은 이해할 수 없는 지시로 파샤의 시신을 학대자에게 돌려보냈고, 파샤는 학대자의 손에 의해 소각되어 핵심 증거가 사라졌습니다. 파샤는 단순 피해자가 아니라 법과 시스템에 의해 두 번 죽임을 당한 존재입니다.

하지만 여기서 끝나지 않습니다. 파샤의 어린 강아지 또한 학대자의 손에 남아 있었으며, 파샤가 죽은 직후 은폐되었습니다. 동물권 단체 케어(CARE)가 신속히 현장에 도착해 학대자의 신원을 특정하고 남은 강아지에 대한 긴급 격리를 요청했지만, 천안시청은 동물보호법에 대한 이해와 의지도 전혀 보이지 않았습니다. 시청 공무원들은 학대자를 만나지 않았고, 강아지의 상태조차 확인하지 않은 채 하루를 허비하고 현장을 떠났습니다.

심지어 신안 지구대 경찰은 시민단체의 구조 활동을 방해하고, 활동가들을 조롱하며 협박하는 등 직무를 유기했습니다. 이는 명백한 공권력의 책임 방기이자 동물학대 묵인입니다.

해당 학대자에 대해서는 수년간 반복된 학대 의혹과 민원이 제기되었으나, 관계 기관은 단 한 차례의 실질적인 조치도 취하지 않았습니다. 그 방관의 대가는 결국 파샤의 죽음이며, 더욱 비극적인 것은 파샤의 어린 강아지—그의 아들—마저 여전히 학대자의 손에 남아 있을 가능성이 매우 크다는 점입니다.

이에 우리는 다음과 같이 요구합니다:
1. 남은 동물에 대한 즉각적인 격리 및 보호 조치
2. 파샤 학대 사건에 대한 철저한 수사 및 엄정 처벌
3. 지자체 및 경찰의 구조 방해와 직무유기에 대한 진상 조사 및 책임자 징계
4. 동물학대 사건에 대한 공권력의 대응 매뉴얼 개선 및 법적 강화
5. 시민단체의 구조 활동에 대한 정당한 보호와 협력 체계 마련
6. 동물학대자에 대한 동물소유권 영구 박탈 입법

파샤의 죽음은 대한민국의 양심을 뒤흔들었으며, 그 충격은 국경을 넘어 전 세계로 퍼지고 있습니다. 만약 이 사건에 대해 아무 조치가 없으면, ‘잔혹함은 용납되고, 정의는 선택사항’이라는 끔찍한 메시지를 전하는 셈입니다. 우리는 이를 결코 용납할 수 없습니다. 대한민국은 이 비극에 정의와 개혁, 그리고 진정한 연민으로 응답해야 할 책임이 있습니다. 대한민국 정부의 신속하고 단호한 대응을 촉구하는 온라인 청원이 현재 진행 중입니다: https://chng.it/2jwfTXrzhY

감사합니다.