South Korea will impose tougher penalties on pet abusers from next year in an effort to better protect animal rights, the government said Monday.

   Under a revision to the animal protection law that passed the National Assembly last week, people who mistreat their pets may be sentenced to a jail term of up to one year or a maximum fine of 10 million won (US$9,400), according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

   Currently, people who are caught mistreating animals can only be sentenced to a fine of up to 5 million won.

   "The revised law reflects the people's increasing concerns over ill treatment of animals," the ministry said in a statement.

   The government had long sought to introduce tougher measures to protect animal rights, but public concerns over animal rights recently flared after a local TV program, "Animal Farm," reported a case in which a dog was nearly beaten to death by a stranger.

   An animal rights group has offered a 1 million won reward for the arrest of the perpetrator, who still remains unknown and at large.

   To help people better find their lost pets and also prevent people from dumping their pets on the street, the revised law will require all owners of dogs to register their ownership with their local governments from 2013. The measure applies only to dogs at this time.

   The number of pets either dumped or lost on the street increased from about 25,000 in 2003 to more than 100,000 last year, according to the ministry.

(Yonhap News)