208 deputies supported the ban, two abstained, and no one was against it. The law will take full effect in 2027, after a three-year transition period. The project was adopted with the support of both the ruling People's Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party.
Violation of the ban may result in a fine or imprisonment
People who violate all of the bans face a fine of up to 30 million won (about $22,700) or two to three years in prison. At the same time, eating dog meat itself will not be punished.
For those who breed dogs professionally for meat, the new law provides help to change the industry, job support and subsidies. All such businesses are required to submit a transition plan to local authorities if they intend to continue operating.
According to the Seoul government, there are about 1,150 dog farms, 34 slaughterhouses, 219 dog meat distributors and about 1,600 dog meat restaurants in the country.
Banning dog meat was one of the election promises of current President Yoon Seok-yeol. First Lady Kim Geun-hee also openly supported the decision, Yonhap news agency reported, noting that the president and his wife have four dogs and three cats.
eating dog meat Koreans are gradually giving up on tradition
In recent years, dog meat has been losing popularity in South Korea, especially among young people, due to the increased activity of animal welfare organizations.
Research shows that more and more citizens are in favor of this tradition, although still 20-25 percent of respondents are in favor of keeping it, even if they themselves do not eat dog meat.
A 2023 Gallup survey found that only 8 percent of Koreans had eaten dog meat in the past 12 months, up from 27 percent in 2015.
(translate tags) South Korea