A man in his 20s who adopted over 20 cats for free under the pretense of stress relief has been sentenced to a prison term for killing them in a brutal manner. On April 24, the Ulsan District Court’s Criminal Division 5, sentenced the defendant, hereby referred to as Mr. A, to one year and six months in prison for violating the Animal Protection Act.
According to the court, in June 2023, Mr. A adopted a kitten for free in Yangsan. While driving to Ulsan on the highway with the kitten in his car, he pulled over to the side of the road, struck the animal with his fist. He killed it and discarded the body by throwing it out of the vehicle.
Mr. A was found to have engaged in similar acts repeatedly over a two-month period. While active on an online forum for stray cats, he adopted 21 kittens under the guise of providing them with a home. However, he subjected them to extreme cruelty, including setting their legs on fire, before abandoning their corpses.
The crimes came to light when individuals who had entrusted the cats to Mr. A contacted him to check on the animals’ wellbeing. His vague and evasive responses, followed by a complete cease of communication, prompted them to report the matter to police.
Investigations revealed that Mr. A harbored animosity toward stray cats due to past experiences, including being disturbed by their noise and having to clean cat feces at his former workplace. The court noted that his actions were further fueled by emotional distress from a recent breakup and financial losses in a failed real estate investment.
“The crimes were repetitive and premeditated, carried out in an extremely cruel manner, showing a clear lack of respect for life,” the court stated in its ruling. “It is also evident that those who donated or rehomed the cats experienced significant emotional suffering.”
