Korea Bans Eating Dogs South Korea Ends Dog Meat Trade

South Korea has made a significant step towards ending the dog meat trade by banning the consumption of dog meat. This move is a result of years of efforts by animal welfare groups and lawmakers.

In 2021, the South Korean government announced plans to phase out the dog meat trade by 2025. This decision was met with widespread support from the public, with many Koreans expressing their opposition to the practice.

The ban on eating dogs in South Korea is a major victory for animal welfare advocates, who have long argued that the trade is inhumane and cruel.

The National Assembly passed the bill to ban dog meat unanimously with a 208-0 vote, considered a historic win for animal rights.

The bill aims to realise the values of animal rights, pursuing respect for life and a harmonious co-existence between humans and animals.

Government officials, farmers, experts, and animal rights activists will work out details to assist dog farmers in shutting down their businesses and shifting to alternatives.

Humane Society International called the legislation's passage "history in the making".

Eating dog meat was once seen as a way to improve stamina in the humid Korean summer, but the practice has become rare and largely limited to some older people.

Most dogs are electrocuted or hanged when slaughtered for meat, though breeders and traders argue there has been progress in making the slaughtering more humane.

Activists say the breeding and slaughtering of dogs to produce meat for human consumption will be punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million won (US$22,800) in fines.

A 2023 survey showed public support for a dog meat ban, with 57 per cent of the 1,500 respondents in favour.

More than 86 per cent of the adults surveyed said they have no intention of eating dogs in the future, regardless of whether they had in the past.

Dogs are now seen more as family pets than food, and the legislation reflects this shift in public opinion.

The legislation will take effect after a three-year grace period, during which time dog farmers will need to adjust to new business models.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, an animal lover, has adopted six dogs and eight cats with First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who is a vocal critic of dog meat consumption.

A 2023 survey by Korea Humane Society International and NielsenIQ showed public support for a dog meat ban, with 57% of respondents in favour.

The majority of South Koreans have no intention of consuming dog meat, with 94% of respondents to a study by Animal Welfare Awareness, Research, and Education stating they had not eaten dog meat in the previous year.

Only 8% of participants in a Gallup Korea survey said they had consumed dog meat the previous year, a significant decrease from 27% in 2015.

More than 86% of adults surveyed said they have no intention of eating dogs in the future, regardless of whether they had in the past.

Dogs are increasingly seen as family pets rather than food, with a 58-year-old Seoul resident stating, "Dogs are different from cows, chickens and pigs. Why would you still eat dogs when they are now seen more as family-like pets than food?"

The anti-dog meat campaign has received a boost from the country's first lady, Kim Keon Hee, who has repeatedly expressed her support for a prohibition.

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The legislation will now head to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for final approval, which is expected to be a formality.

Yoon and his wife, first lady Kim Keon Hee, are known to be animal lovers and campaigned for the ban on eating dogs, which suggests a strong commitment to its passage.

The bill was proposed by Yoon's ruling party, alongside the main opposition party, indicating a rare bipartisan agreement on this issue.

Kim has vocally supported ending the practice of eating dogs, and said outlawing the custom was one of Yoon's presidential priorities, highlighting the personal significance of this ban.