The country’s parliament passed a law banning the sale of dog meat. The law will enter into force in three years.
In South Korea, the decision-makers want to remove dog meat from the citizens’ menu. On Tuesday, the country’s parliament approved a law banning the sale of dog meat.
Dogs have been eaten on the Korean peninsula for centuries, but the practice has been criticized more and more in the 21st century as the animal rights movement grew stronger in South Korea as well.
Today, the average South Korean thinks of a dog primarily as a pet. According to a recent survey, 94 percent of citizens have not eaten dog meat in the past year.
In the past, dogs were eaten especially in the summer, as dog meat was believed to improve vitality in humid weather. Today, however, eating dogs is rare and is mostly enjoyed by older people.
The president supports the ban
The ban on the sale of dog meat was pushed by South Korea’s ruling party and the ban was approved by a clear majority in the country’s unicameral parliament.
The country’s president has also supported the ban Yoon Suk-yeol, who is known as an animal lover. Yoon and his wife have taken in numerous stray cats and dogs.
The now approved law will enter into force in three years. Violation of the law can be punished with a maximum of three years in prison or a fine of 21,000 euros.
Previous attempts to limit the consumption of dog meat had fallen against the opposition of dog breeders.
According to South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, in the summer of 2022, approximately 1,100 farms raised nearly 600,000 dogs to be sold to restaurants.
South Korea has more than 50 million inhabitants.
Source: Reuters, AP