In South Korea, Parliament passed a law banning the consumption and sale of dog meat in January, which will take effect in February 2027.
The move ends a controversial, centuries-old tradition in the country, where support for animal welfare is growing and demand for dog meat is declining. One of the main reasons for this is the international condemnation of this tradition.
On the other hand, young people in South Korea view dogs more as pets than food, so dog meat dishes are only popular among the older age group.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Park Beum-soo said the government is spending about 100 billion won (about 27 billion Hungarian forints) to encourage dog breeders, manufacturers and restaurants to close their businesses.
According to the law, dog meat manufacturers can be sentenced to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (about 8 million forints). Those who breed or sell dogs for their meat can expect up to two years in prison or a fine of 20 million won (about 5.3 million Hungarian forints).
Although many people worry that the remaining dogs will be culled or possibly processed for consumption in the next three years, this is not the plan – the Deputy Minister emphasizes.
There are currently more than 1,500 dog breeding farms, more than 200 dog slaughterhouses, and about 2,300 restaurants serving dog meat in South Korea. Support for the ban has increased significantly since South Korean President Jeon Seog-yeol, himself an animal lover, took office.
