On Tuesday, January 9, 2023, the South Korean parliament passed a law aimed at prohibiting the trade of dog meat. According to this new law, it will no longer be possible to breed, sell, and slaughter dogs for consumption. With 208 votes in favour and 0 against, this new law was unanimously adopted.
This practice was already in sharp decline, with numerous animal welfare groups fighting against the dog meat trade, despite the presence of many "canine farms" around the country.
1100 dog farming facilities
According to official figures, South Korea has more than 1100 canine farming facilities whose activity is entirely devoted to producing dog meat. These establishments will have a grace period of three years before the new law is enforced.
In case of non-compliance with the new regulations, offenders may face penalties of up to three years in prison and a fine of 30 million won (£17,891).
A victory for animal welfare
JungAh Chae, director of the Humane Society International and Korean Animal Protection Foundation, expressed her satisfaction: "Today, our legislators have acted decisively to make this a reality. I am delighted that South Korea can now close this miserable chapter of our history and open up to a future."
Customs seem to be changing, as more countries and cities around the world are willing to abandon these outdated practices. In the summer of 2023, the mayor of Tomohon (Indonesia) also signed a historic agreement to ban dog and cat meat in his city's market. Determined to completely eradicate these traditions, many animal welfare groups continue to work every day to ensure that this change happens as quickly as possible.
