Pension Owner Fined 3 Million Won After Peacock Raised on Premises Attacks Guest

A pension owner who failed to properly manage a peacock allowed to roam outdoors, resulting in injury to a child guest, has been fined.

Cheongju District Court's Chungju Branch announced today (July 24) that Judge Kim Joo-hyun, presiding over Criminal Division 2, sentenced 58-year-old A, who was put on trial on charges of professional negligence resulting in injury, to a fine of 3 million won.

A, who operates a pension in Chungju, raised animals including peacocks, rabbits, and parrots for the experiential learning of guests.

Among them, one peacock wandered out of the pension in August of last year, attacked the face of a 4-year-old boy, B, who was heading to the barbecue area, inflicting injuries that required two weeks of treatment.

During the trial, A acknowledged responsibility but argued, "Peacocks are docile animals, so there must have been some provocation."

However, Judge Kim ruled, "A person who raises animals has a professional duty of care to recognize the possibility of an animal attacking people, install warning signs, keep the animals caged when guest safety is a concern, and protect guests from the animals by deploying additional personnel. The defendant was negligent in failing to fulfill these duties."

※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.