Traditional dog meat soup may go down in history in South Korea. 64 percent of South Koreans oppose using dogs for human consumption.
In South Korea, two million dogs are eaten every year.
Dietary habits and general opinion on the use of dog meat as food are gradually changing.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Gallup Korea Institute, eight percent of those interviewed had tasted dog in 2022. In 2015, 27 percent of those interviewed had eaten a dog.
Local food traditions and the views of animal rights organizations are at odds. According to statistics published by the South Korean government, there are 1,150 dog kennels and 34 slaughterhouses in South Korea. About 1,600 restaurants have dog dishes on their menu.
The president adopts stray dogs
A representative of South Korea’s ruling PPP party Yu Eui-dong says that the dog-eating tradition has attracted criticism both abroad and among local youth.
– The bill enabling the ban will come to parliament before the turn of the year. It will probably get the support of the parliament, says Yu to the news agency Reuters.
South Korea’s Minister of Agriculture Chung Hwang-keun says that companies that give up dog meat production will be paid a subsidy to stop operations.
The model is shown by the country’s first lady Kim Keon Hee, who has campaigned for a ban on eating. Kim and her spouse Yoon Suk Yeol have adopted several stray dogs.
Previous ban attempts have fallen against the opposition of the restaurant industry and breeders. The law change would guarantee companies transitional support for three years.
Dog soup has been a traditional food especially during the hot season on the Korean peninsula.
Reuters