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South Korea imposes ban on dog meat industry

Up to 1 million dogs a year are factory farmed and killed for human consumption in South Korea. Read More

Tuesday January 9, 2024 5:34 PM , ummid.com News Network

Seoul (South Korea): South Korea's National Assembly Tuesday January 09, 2024 voted to ban the dog meat industry in what animal campaigners at Humane Society International, Korea called "history in the making."

Up to 1 million dogs a year are factory farmed and killed for human consumption in South Korea.

The ban, which comes into force in six months' time with a three-year phase out, will make the breeding, slaughter and sale of dogs, and dog meat for human consumption illegal from 2027

Violators will be imposed with penalties of up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW.

"The legislation includes a penalty of up to 2 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 20million KRW for the breeding and sale of dogs for consumption, and up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million KRW for the slaughter of dogs for human consumption", the Humane Society International said.

Dog farmers, slaughterers and restaurant owners will be eligible to apply for compensation, and after review, government support will be offered to transition or close those businesses.

'History in the making'

JungAh Chae, Executive Director of Humane Society International, Korea which campaigned tirelessly for the ban, welcomed the news.

"This is history in the making. 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", JungAh Chae said.

"We reached a tipping point where most Korean citizens reject eating dogs and want to see this suffering consigned to the history books, and today our policymakers have acted decisively to make that a reality."

"While my heart breaks for all the millions of dogs for whom this change has come too late, I am overjoyed that South Korea can now close this miserable chapter in our history and embrace a dog friendly future", JungAh Chae said.

With this ban, South Korea has joined a growing list of countries and territories across Asia that have banned the dog meat trade (with varying degrees of enforcement) including Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, India, Thailand and Singapore, as well as the cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai in mainland China, Siem Reap province in Cambodia, and 45 cities, regencies and provinces in Indonesia, according to Humane Society International.

 

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