SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea’s parliament made a historic decision on Tuesday by endorsing legislation to ban the country’s dwindling dog meat industry. This move comes as a response to increasing public calls for action, driven by animal rights campaigns and concerns about the country’s international reputation.
While some dog farmers expressed anger and threatened to take legal action against the ban, it is clear that the debate surrounding this issue will continue to be heated.
It is important to note that dog meat consumption has been a tradition on the Korean Peninsula for centuries, and it is currently neither explicitly outlawed nor legalized in South Korea. However, recent surveys have shown that an overwhelming majority of South Koreans no longer consume dog meat and support its ban. Interestingly, one in every three South Koreans still opposes the ban, even if they don’t consume dog meat themselves.
With a resounding 208-0 vote, the National Assembly passed the bill on Tuesday. President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government is fully behind this ban, suggesting that the subsequent steps to make it law will proceed smoothly.
The legislation reads, “This law is aimed at contributing to realizing the values of animal rights, which promote respect for life and a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals.”
If enacted, the bill would make the slaughtering, breeding, trade, and sales of dog meat for human consumption illegal starting from 2027. Those found guilty of engaging in such activities could face 2-3 years in prison. Notably, the bill does not specify penalties for consuming dog meat.
Overall, this legislation represents a significant step towards ending the dog meat industry in South Korea and upholding the principles of animal rights.
The End of the Dog Meat Industry in South Korea
In a groundbreaking move, the South Korean government has introduced a bill that aims to provide assistance to farmers and others involved in the dog meat industry to either shut down their businesses or transition to alternative livelihoods. The specific details of outlawing the industry will be determined through collaborative discussions among government officials, farmers, experts, and animal rights activists.
Humane Society International (HSI) has hailed the passage of this legislation as a historic moment. “I never thought I would see in my lifetime a ban on the cruel dog meat industry in South Korea, but this historic win for animals is testament to the passion and determination of our animal protection movement,” expressed JungAh Chae, executive director of HSI’s Korea office.
Unsurprisingly, the legislation has not been received well by dog farmers who are feeling deeply upset and frustrated. They argue that it infringes upon their freedom of occupational choice. “This is a clear state violence as they’re infringing upon freedom of occupational option. We can’t just sit idly,” voiced Son Won Hak, a farmer and leader of a farmers’ association.
In response to this development, dog farmers have announced their plans to protest. They intend to file a petition to the constitutional court and organize rallies to voice their discontent. Furthermore, the farmers will convene on Wednesday to strategize future steps.
While there is no reliable official data on the exact scale of South Korea’s dog meat industry, both activists and farmers estimate that hundreds of thousands of dogs are slaughtered for meat each year in the country.
