K-netizens Furious Over Choi Siwon’s Family Response After Dog Bites Neighbor Leading to Sepsis-related Death

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• A dog is still an animal. If he know how to behave, he shouldn't be calling as animal. Unfortunately, the responsibility still fall on the owner (Choi family).

• I don't know what to say to make things better in this case.

  • That’s why I dont still get dogs but am a Cat lover. Coz dog ownership comes with risk of animal biting, like have you heard of Cat biting incident, lol? only rare when animals are provoke. you need to be more responsible owners when having a dog, you must be invested coz dogs are high maintenance, they are relationship dependent animals, best at companion, their behavior will depend on their owners, you need to have enough time for them so they dont go back being wild if always left alone on their own.

    • btw, am not promoting people abandon their Dog pets, that’s even worse, all Im saying be more responsible dog owners. as there are human laws against pet abandoning, though in some cases they dont strictly implement it, that’s why you see many stray animals outside the streets. you may escape in this life by abandoning your pets, but in God’s law all actions will be judge including how you have treated your pets, animals and others. I am speaking for 3 million Cats that gets euthanized in US every year (no stat for Dogs), coz they were abandoned and no home will welcome them.

    • Since you're a "cat person", I'll forgive your ignorant comment. As you've mentioned, dog ownership comes with a risk but it depends on the breed, so much so that their behavior doesn't really depend on their owners but also on their breed and upbringing.

    • @Chloe The lady just have chemo for cancer so her body is very weak due the lack of white blood cell. You can't blame everything on the dog but if the dog didn't bite her, she would be still alive.

      Imagine what she and her family endure after just come back to life after all the chemo's pain but she died because of the dog's bite. I would hate the dog if I were her family members

    • Cats don't bite??? Seriously?? Yes, they do and they also scratch with long fingernails. Just ask my neighbor's child who's face and arms are permanently scarred from a cat attack. I am allergic to cats, and they seem to know it. I have had way too many scratches from people's cats. The itching and swelling is horrible. Well-trained dogs do not bite unless threatened. Give me a dog anyday.

  • In Siwon’s case, it should be investigated properly if the dog is the real reason for neighbor’s death, like does it have rabies, and will be more dangerous to others. if found guilty, they have no choice but to take down the pet, for the life it took, it will pay it by its own little life. Please please please be responsible Dog owners, it’s the only thing you can do!

    • From what I know, the dog does not have any diseases, it was just an unfortunate case of the dog biting someone and the lady probably didn't treat the wound properly leading to sepsis and her untimely demise. You can't blame everything on the dog

    • The woman who died had recently completed chemotherapy treatment for cancer and was very immunocompromised. Chemo drugs kill fast growing cells, including platelets that are needed to form clots and White Blood Cells for fighting infection. With the bite already, she probably had a bleeding issue, but it also led to infection setting in without the presence of a good immune system to fight it off. Sepsis occurs and death follows without effective treatment. It’s an unfortunate situation, but one that would’ve been prevented if the dog had been on a leash and no bitten her.

• Well! I think in USA they would have euthanized the dog already & the victim's family probably would have sued the dog's owner also.

  • The deceased's sister said they would not sue the family. That they have forgiven choi siwon already

    • What kind of bullpoop is that? Did the decease family get a large amount for not sueing?

    • one can only guess... this is always termed "settled out of court" (by money of coz)...

    • @hnAo and @candycane That family are rich and I don't think they want money. The person who died is a CEO
      They just didn't want to kill SW's career and it doesn't bring her back regardless...

    • not lacking money does not equate not liking money... we are all just guessing. It would take a very noble person/family not to seek any compensation when being beaten by a crazy dog causing pain let alone dying from sepsis caused by the bite wound. BTW, Siwon's new drama is really boring... his career is not being helped by anything good lately... not a fan, not taking sides, just my two cents here...

    • You should read the interview from the lady's son and family they seem to be very noble and smart... Definitely not the kind that give up a lawsuit for some money...

  • In the US dog bite cases are common. (I worked in an insurance company and we dealt with the work comp dog bite cases, usually delivery people/gas company etc.) Anyway, dog bite cases, when not work related, are often covered under homeowners/renters insurance of the dog owner. For a simple bite, they are generally a doctor bill and maybe a few hundred for pain and suffering.

    It is incredibly tragic that this victim is alleged to be a cancer survivor and might have had a compromised immune system. The dog absolutely should have been on a leash, but I would also look into the medical treatment though it sounds like the family wants to move on.

    I have been a victim of a dog bite with a dog that got loose from its home. I have a friend whose son was walking a leashed dog when the dog suddenly pulled away and ran and bit another dog when it had never done such a thing before. Lots of stuff can happen with pets. However, Siwon wasn't there when this occurred (and obviously has been gone in the military for a while) so I just don't understand the mentality that he is somehow responsible, just like I don't get people blaming stars when the accountants mess up the taxes, or because a star's brother is a bully.

    • SiWon and his family should be grateful that the victim's family decided not to press charges and forgave him.But if they did, good luck proving that there are not guilty of involuntary manslaughter has occurred, in a court of law, with excuses like "he wasnt there", blaming the "immune system of the victim" or medical treatment in this case.

      The "he wasnt there" excuse is crap because the dog is his/family's(i dont care).So they are liable for the actions of their pet since it cant think for itself.Its same as if a child who under the law(is "incapable of committing an offence) like say 10 or under scratches another child's face or cause serious bodily harm to another child.The parents of the victim child can sue, and ask for the defendant child to foot the medical bills or something.But they are consequences and it will definitely attract negative public opinion, regarding the child's upbringing even in cases where the parents are good parents.Just because the defendant child's parents "were not there" would not work as an excuse.I dont see much difference with this case.Also the dog already has a history of biting people.Even his own group member Lee Teuk posted about the dog biting him before.

    • The excuse about "the victim's weakened system" is also crap.Why?The primary cause of death was not broken because of the victim's immune system.No dog bite, no sepsis..no need for medical treatment.,victim would still be alive.There is no proof of negligence on the part of the victim or the hospital.Also..there is no logic on blaming the victim for an unruly dog.Choi Si Won, his family are responsible and should be held to account.Put down the dog, for them to understand the consequences of their negligence in looking after the pet, or take the dog away from them and rehabilitate it and give it to other people who will pay attention to the pet not treat him just like an accessory for instagram posts.

      Although, taking him out of the drama is not helpful to the situation, if they cant stand seeing him, just dont watch the drama.Kang Sora and others are good actors.They only need to fo this and move on to other projects, and they will be just fine.

    • Let's be specific, if it was his father who had the dog without a leash he is the one that would be liable in the US. My point was that in the US this would be covered under an insurance policy that the injured party could sue. I do not pretend to understand the law of Korea or all the cultural differences which I make note of in my posting.

      In the US there is the "eggshell skull rule" wherein you take your claimants/defendants the way you get them. We had a case where someone slipped and fell at a store. This person was diabetic and had to have his lower leg amputated. This was for most people a minor injury that wouldn't have been much more than a sprain, but the company paid a quarter of a million dollars because of the pre-existing medical condition. The concept being, diabetics will be shopping at the store..right... so the store should clean up a spilled drink fast. So, yes, I get it the family could get a lot of $. I was pointing out that it was an absolute tragedy that this poor woman went through this which for most people would have been a nasty but medically minor incident.

      Again, in the US that is how it would be handled and SiWon would be deposed about previous bite incidents, but it would be his families insurance that would pay and the father who would be considered negligent. Again, I get it, in Korea the family seems to share the shame even if you weren't there when the incident occurred. (I make mention of the brother bully incident hurting the W actress.)

      After working for the insurance company, I worked for a litigation law firm. Law suits take years and they can suck the life out of you as it is hard to emotionally move on until it is completed. I would totally understand if this family wanted compensation, but I also respect if they want to grieve and move on.

      I understand because of my background, I look at things through an analytical eye because that's the way you have to be when dealing with lots of horrible situations. But I did say I found it to be tragic because it is. The whole thing is horrible.

      As far as SiWon's career, I could not care less. I had never hard a Super Junior song until about 2 weeks ago though I did love him in King of Dramas. Never saw SWP.

    • Wow, I am surprised that you are saying that a dog bite is compensated by 100$ in US. In my country dogs have to be walked with a leash, otherwise the owner is doing something illegal. If I was bitten by a dog I would not stop for 100, what about the trauma for life, the scars that will not go away ever? Why do I have to suffer the rest of my life because of some irresponsible offender? I was attacked once by a farm animal and I still cannot get close to them years after, I panic at dogs and even with my cat I had difficult times until I was able to trust him again.
      Dog owners should be more responsible and aware of the harm their animals can do.

    • Hi @Elena. The more serious the bite injury, the more $ involved. So someone with multiple bites or bad scarring will see more money versus someone who was bit and it barely broke the skin.

      When I was bit on the hand, it was minor and left no scar. The traumatic part for me was if the owners couldn't find the proof of a rabies shot, they were going to put the dog down to see if it had rabies. If they didn't do that, I would have had to go through a lot of shots which I hear are horrific. It was very stressful because I didn't want the dog put down but didn't want the shots.

      The worst case I've heard in the US is the dog mauling case in the San Fran area where a dog or two mauled a woman to death. I think one or both owners actually went to prison for that one.

      Most urban places that I've lived in have leash laws, and I find most try to obey but there are always those people who swear their dogs won't do anything. We have multiple dog parks by our house where they can be let off the leash and they are always super busy. But I always wonder how those dogs manage to behave around each other.

    • @Kat even I think RubyRed is too harsh

      The dog owner is liable for their pet. Why is the adult son being dragged into it? Also the council where the dog os registered has to have a report. And the ranger come to the house for ours. The council can then ask for the dog to be put down. And yes if the family chooses they can sue.

      And also medically, it is a known fact that a dog bite is a dirty bite. And if the person sought immediate medical attention especially if they are immunocompromised to prevent infection.

      And dying from sepsis is not restricted to just vulnerable people. We had healthy adults die from influenza this winter. And I once had a 23 year old who had a cold for a fews and by the time they went to the hospital they had DIC and died within 24hrs.

      I am not saying that the animal is in the wrong. But if it has bitten before then the owners have to be careful. And yes I own 2 large dogs myself. 35kg each. And trained. But even I am not idiotic to walk 2 off leash ( not allowed ) but we have off leashed beaches and parks. And they would not be under effective control. So I leash one and the other is unleashed. Or do one dog at a time.

      So as a dog owner... am still wondering why the dog was off leashed. And also am leery of owners and how they train their dogs because I have met so many negligent owners. A good trained dog can and will stop immediately on command.

• While there should be some form of punishment for the unfortunate death that occurred I think it is an overreaction to ask that the actor be removed from the show.

• Its too late for him to be taken out of the drama since its already airing and pulling in decent ratings. Plus they must have already filmed about 8-9 episodes which is like 50% of the drama. He should be held responsible still.

• Wow I am stunned! Such a tragic unforseen death. An unfortunate incident for all parties involved.

  Condolences to the deceased family. How is CSW going to work at the filming site? The incident is so recent. Aweful situation for the rest of the cast/crew too.

• My thoughts and prayers go to the family of the woman. :(

  I wonder why neither Siwon nor his family did try to school their dog instead of letting him bite people. Of course when the dog doesn't know it's wrong it will do it again and again.

  Definitely the family should receive punishment. Removing him from the drama sounds a bit dramatic though... typical Netizens reaction. I'm not watching the drama but I think in this personal and professional should be seperated.

• Well that's just very an unfortunate event

• I understood from some comments that Choi Siwon was still in the army when the incident occurred, though I’m not sure about the timing. I saw pictures and video clips of the incident. The dog, with its history of biting, should have been muzzled and put on a leash.

  I understand the comments to have the dog put down, but it’s hard for the family to do since it must be considered a family member. Such an unfortunate thing to happen. The family should take responsibility, though I don’t know how pulling Siwon from his currently airing drama will help matters. Netizens take their witch hunt to extreme levels sometimes.

• The dog should be put down for sure. If they can't control where he is, this could happen again!!!I would be scared to death to live in that building