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According to the Korea Herald, the law banning the breeding and sale of dog meat marks a significant turning point in the transformation of the dog meat industry in South Korea. The government is compensating more than 5,600 dog meat shops before forcing them to close completely.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), a total of 5,625 businesses will be affected by this law and therefore eligible for state support.
However, stakeholders, including farm owners and dog meat vendors, have reacted. They expressed concerns about their livelihoods as well as the practical challenges of how to handle hundreds of thousands of dogs at the farms. The government plan includes financial support for farm owners based on the closure date, with compensation ranging from 225,000 to 600,000 won (US$170-450) per dog.
South Koreans continue to debate the ban on dog meat.
After the closure, the remaining dogs will be managed by local animal shelters. If the shelters are not large enough, the remaining dogs will temporarily stay at farms under government supervision. However, dog owners argue that this plan is impractical.
For that reason, the discontent among dog meat farmers has not subsided. The Korean Edible Dog Association, representing approximately 1.5 million dog owners, has filed a complaint with the government, arguing that the ban violates the right to freedom of occupation and freedom of food choice.
Banning the dog meat trade in South Korea is not an easy task.
The association has also requested the Korean Commission for Audit and Inspection to review allegations of abuse of power affecting the livelihoods of dog meat farmers. Eating dog meat in Korea has a long history, based on the belief that it helps restore health.
In January 2024, the South Korean National Assembly passed a bill banning the consumption and sale of dog meat, ending this centuries-old and controversial tradition. The National Assembly's decision has received growing support from the South Korean public, particularly animal lovers and those concerned about animal welfare.
South Korean society remains divided over the ban on eating dog meat.
Park Beom-su, South Korea's Vice Minister of Agriculture, said the government will spend approximately 100 billion won (US$75 million) to support dog breeders, farmers, and restaurants in abandoning the dog meat business.
