South Korean media: South Korea's ban on eating dog meat has been officially implemented, which will completely ban the breeding and slaughter of dogs for the purpose of eating
2024-08-10
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[Global Times Comprehensive Report] Yonhap News Agency reported on the 7th that the South Korean government officially began to implement the "Special Law on the Termination of Dog Breeding, Slaughter and Distribution for Food Purposes" on the same day and set a 3-year buffer period.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of South Korea, from February 7, 2027, South Korea will completely ban the breeding, slaughtering, distribution and sale of dogs for food. During the buffer period, governments at all levels in South Korea will provide financial subsidies to dog farmers, slaughterers, distributors, catering companies and other related companies that change their business or close down. There are 5,625 dog-related companies that need subsidies, and the specific amount will be announced in September.
The Korea Herald reported that after the bill's grace period ends in 2027, individuals who slaughter dogs for dog meat production will face up to three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won (10,000 won is approximately 52.1 yuan), while those who raise dogs for dog meat production or sell dog meat will face up to two years in prison or a fine of 20 million won.
South Korea has a history of eating dog meat for hundreds of years. Since Yoon Seok-yeol was elected president of South Korea in 2022, South Korea's first lady Kim Gun-hee has been saying that she wants to end the country's custom of eating dog meat. According to a report by Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Kennel Association is strongly dissatisfied with the implementation of the law, believing that the forced implementation of the closure plan without support measures will only infringe on the basic rights of those working in the dog-eating industry. In addition, the government simply does not have enough budget to meet the compensation needs of those working in the dog-eating industry. Regarding the implementation of the regulation, the Seoul News reported that Kim, the owner of a dog meat soup restaurant in Chilseong Market, Daegu, South Korea, said that the number of people eating dog meat continues to decrease, and the related industry will automatically disappear, "I don't know why the law has to be made." There used to be more than 50 dog meat soup restaurants operating in Chilseong Market, but after the Korean society's view of dog meat changed, only four dog meat soup restaurants were left to barely maintain operations. Korean media noted that the price of black goat meat, which is regarded as a substitute for dog meat in South Korea, has risen. The Korea Herald reported that according to the latest estimates by the Korean Black Goat Association, as of June, the wholesale price of black goat meat was 20,000 won per kilogram, up more than 50% from three years ago.
(Source: Global Times)
