South Korea plans to ban dog meat consumption. A corresponding law will be adopted in the country within a year, reports the South Korean publication Hankyoreh, citing a statement from the chairman of the People Power Party committee, Yu Ui Dong.
According to government plans, a new "Special Law on the Prohibition of Dog Meat Consumption" will be adopted within a year. This law will prohibit the breeding and slaughter of dogs for the purpose of using their meat for food, as well as the processing of dog meat for these purposes. After the new legislation comes into effect, there will be a transitional period of three years (until 2027), after which fines will be imposed for violations of the law.
With the adoption of this law, dogs will no longer fall under the "Livestock Law" as they will no longer be considered agricultural animals. Instead, they will be covered by the "Animal Protection Law," the publication reports.
During the first six months of 2024, all producers, processors, and distributors of this type of meat, as well as restaurants offering it on their menus, will be required to notify local regulatory authorities of their activities, and within six months, submit a plan for reducing production and dismantling equipment. From the moment the law comes into effect, the opening of new dog breeding farms will be prohibited.
It is noted that enterprises that timely provide the necessary data will receive assistance in dismantling facilities, redirecting production, or in the form of subsidies and payments. In particular, when transitioning to livestock farming or horticulture, administrative support will be provided, along with low-interest loans (1–2%) for the reconstruction of existing or construction of new production facilities. Additionally, there is a possibility of payments up to 20 million won as subsidies for distributors and restaurants.
According to official information, there are currently 1,156 farms breeding meat breeds of dogs, 34 slaughterhouses, 253 distribution companies, and 1,666 restaurants in the country that serve dog meat.
Animal rights activists welcomed the government's initiative, noting that between 300,000 and 500,000 dogs are killed for meat each year in the country. Previous attempts to change this tradition faced resistance from industry representatives and objections from the older generation, which considers dog meat a means to cope with the summer heat. It is noted that people under 45 do not consume dog meat and consider this tradition inhumane and harmful.
"It is time to put an end to social conflicts and disagreements surrounding dog meat consumption by taking legislative measures," the publication quotes Yu Ui Dong.
