In a historic move, South Korea's parliament passes a bill banning the eating and selling of dog meat. The centuries-old practice, once linked to improving stamina, faces an end amid shifting attitudes towards dogs as family pets and concerns over inhumane slaughtering methods.
Proposed by the ruling party and supported by President Yoon Suk Yeol, the bill passed with rare bipartisan support, garnering 208 votes. The law, effective after a three-year grace period, criminalizes breeding and slaughtering dogs for meat, punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won ($22,800). Notably, the bill doesn't penalize the act of consuming dog meat.
President Yoon, an avid animal lover, has played a key role in the growing support for the ban. The practice, once more common, is now limited to older demographics as more Koreans view dogs as family members. Critics of dog meat consumption cite electrocution or hanging as common slaughtering methods.
Despite opposition from the Korean Association of Edible Dogs, planning to contest the law's legitimacy, the bill includes provisions for compensating businesses transitioning away from the dog meat trade. Approximately 1,100 farms breeding 570,000 dogs and 1,600 restaurants serving dog meat are estimated to be affected.
A recent survey indicates a significant shift in public sentiment, with over 94% of respondents abstaining from dog meat consumption in the past year. Animal welfare groups, such as Humane Society International Korea, applaud the legislation, emphasizing a societal rejection of dog meat consumption.