The Incident and Initial Injuries
The victim, identified as 50-year-old A씨, was walking alone near a neighborhood playground at approximately 10:30 p.m. on June 1, 2026, when the attack occurred. According to JTBC, A씨 was passing a middle-aged man seated on a playground bench when the dog, positioned behind the bench, suddenly lunged without warning and bit his thigh.
When the initial impact caused A씨 to fall, the dog attempted to lunge at his face. A씨 used his right arm to shield his face, sustaining severe bite injuries to the limb. “It knocked me down instantly, and when I raised my arm to protect my face, the dog kept biting me three or four times continuously,” A씨 recounted in the JTBC broadcast.
Following the attack, A씨 spent 23 days hospitalized and underwent a total of six surgeries. Because the ligaments and muscles in his right arm and both thighs sustained extensive damage, doctors were unable to immediately close the wounds, instead utilizing repeated sterilization and cleaning procedures, as reported by JTBC.
Legal Fallout and Conflicting Claims
Responsibility for the incident has become the subject of sharp disagreement between the two parties. According to JTBC, the dog’s owner claimed that warnings were issued from a distance of 10 to 15 meters telling A씨 not to approach, alleging that A씨 continued to walk closer and provoked the attack.
CCTV footage broadcast by JTBC contradicted the owner’s narrative, showing the owner seated on a bench while A씨 walked past with his back turned to the owner. A씨 strongly disputed the owner’s account, stating that the owner was fabricating a scenario that never occurred.
Police and prosecutors have since advanced legal proceedings regarding the incident. While the owner maintained that financial compensation would be handled through insurance, A씨 filed a criminal complaint against the owner for professional negligence resulting in bodily injury. In response, the owner filed a counter-complaint against A씨 for false accusation.
Police advised A씨 that the counter-complaint for false accusation carried little risk of penalty, while prosecutors have requested a summary order imposing a 3 million KRW fine against the dog’s owner in connection with the negligence charge, according to JTBC. Investigators noted that the owner’s failure to properly control the dog’s leash at the time of the incident constituted the primary legal fault.
Impact on the Victim’s Livelihood and Health
Beyond the physical trauma, A씨 has experienced significant psychological and financial distress. The injuries left prominent scars on his arm, making it difficult for him to wear short-sleeved shirts, and triggered sleep disorders requiring medication. A psychiatrist subsequently diagnosed A씨 with acute stress disorder, leading to ongoing psychiatric treatment.
As a sole proprietor running a one-person business, A씨 handles goods transportation and delivery personally. The loss of function in his right arm has disrupted his business operations and livelihood. Furthermore, because medical insurance policies require treatment to conclude before payouts are disbursed, A씨 has had to shoulder mounting out-of-pocket medical expenses.
“I am undergoing surgeries and unable to work, but the owner acts as if they simply broke a window and need to pay for minor repairs,” A씨 told JTBC, adding, “It is fortunate that I am relatively healthy and that this happened to me rather than my parents, wife, or daughter.”
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