SOUTH KOREA – In a historic decision, the South Korean parliament has passed legislation to ban the trade in dog meat, marking a significant shift in a country where dog meat consumption, though declining, has been a part of the culinary tradition. The law, passed on Tuesday, prohibits breeding, selling, and slaughtering dogs for consumption.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the bill was adopted with overwhelming support in the National Assembly, garnering 208 votes in favor, with 2 abstentions and no votes against. The legislation, which will become effective three years after being signed into law by President Yoon Suk Yeol, carries penalties of up to three years in prison and a fine of 30 million won (approximately 20,800 euros) for violations.
Dog meat, once a staple in South Korean cuisine, has seen a steep decline in consumption in recent years, coinciding with a rise in pet ownership. A survey conducted by the Seoul-based think tank Animal Welfare Awareness, Research and Education, released on Monday, indicated that nine out of ten South Koreans do not foresee consuming dog meat in the future.
Animal rights activists and organizations have welcomed this move. JungAh Chae, executive director of Humane Society International/Korea, described the decision as a ‘historic turning point’ and a signal that South Korea is ready to leave this part of its culinary history behind.
Thae Yong-ho, a member of the majority party and one of the bill’s proponents, expressed relief that South Korea would no longer be seen as a dog-eating country. The bill also includes provisions for compensating businesses to exit the dog meat trade.
Despite its historical presence, eating dog meat has become increasingly taboo among young urban South Koreans, leading to growing governmental pressure to legislate on the issue. President Yoon, an animal lover who, along with First Lady Kim Keon Hee, has adopted several stray animals, has been a supporter of the ban. His predecessor, Moon Jae-in, had also suggested banning dog meat consumption in 2021.
The legislation follows long-standing opposition from dog meat breeders. Official figures estimate that around 1,100 dog farms breed hundreds of thousands of dogs annually, served in restaurants nationwide. Dog meat, known for being red and fatty, is traditionally boiled and consumed as a summer delicacy.
South Korea’s animal protection law, primarily focused on preventing cruel slaughter, did not previously prohibit the consumption of dogs and cats. The law has been invoked to regulate dog farms and restaurants, particularly during international events like the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
The Animal Liberation Wave association views this vote as a starting point for broader considerations of animal rights, extending to other species used in industrial exploitation.