The South Korea parliament passes a landmark legislation banning the dog meat trade. The new law passed with a rare bipartisan, near unanimous support with the stated intent to “eradicate the consumption of dogs.” 

The law provides a three year window for dog meat farmers to convert their production. Under the new law, slaughtering, breeding, trading, and selling of dog meat will be banned beginning in 2027. The breeding and slaughtering of dogs for human consumption will be punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($22,800) in fines. Any business currently operating in the dog meat trade, must share their plan to stop selling dog meat with the government providing financial support for the transition. 

Traditionally South Koreans believed eating dog meat provided a cheap source of stamina, especially on hot summer days. Dog meat consumption has declined drastically, especially among younger South Koreans in recent years. As dog ownership has increased, South Korea’s taste for dog meat has decreased. A recent survey by a Seoul think-tank found 94% of respondents reported they had not eaten dog meat in the past year. 

The bill passing has not been without protest. The Korea Dog Meat Association previously threatened to release 2 million dogs around the presidential office in Seoul. They have stated the ban will affect 3,500 dog meat farms with 1.5 million dogs that supply 3,000 restaurants. The Korean Dog Meat Farmers Association also stated intent to challenge the constitutionality of the law.

Chae Jung-ah, of the Humane Society International in Korea, said “While my heart breaks for all the millions of dogs for whom this change has come too late, I am overjoyed that South Korea can now close this miserable chapter in our history and embrace a dog friendly future,” she said. “Korean Society has reached a tipping point where most people now reject eating dogs and want to see this suffering consigned to the history books.”

Yoon Suk Yeol, the president, and first lady Kim Keon Hee are known as animal-lovers, owning six dogs. Kim attended an animal rights event last summer and said “dog meat consumption should come to an end … in an era when humans and pets coexist as friends.”