South Korean Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Ban Dog Meat Industry

South Korean Democratic Party Assembly Member Jeoung-ae Han has proposed a new legislative bill aimed at eradicating the dog meat industry in South Korea. The bill, known as the Special Act, seeks to ban the breeding and slaughter of dogs for human consumption, including the operation of dog meat farms, slaughterhouses, and the sale of dog meat throughout the country. Additionally, it aims to Support dog farmers in transitioning to alternative businesses. This legislative move follows a collaboration between Han and HSI/Korea, a prominent animal welfare organization that has been working with Korean lawmakers to advocate for a ban on the dog meat industry.

The Special Act has garnered Support from 11 bipartisan sponsors and comes at a time when public and political sentiment in South Korea is increasingly in favor of ending the dog meat industry. First Lady Kim Keon-hee has publicly called for a ban, and recent opinion surveys conducted by Nielsen Korea, commissioned by HSI/Korea, reveal that 87.5% of the population either do not consume dog meat or have no plans to do so in the future. Furthermore, 56% of respondents expressed Support for a legislative ban.

Assembly Member Han, who has joined the cause to expedite the process, emphasized, “Dog meat is not considered food under the Food Sanitation Act, which means that this cruel industry already operates in violation of the law. It is imperative to pass this Special Act to put an end to the farming, slaughter, processing, and sale of dogs for consumption. The dog meat industry not only inflicts unnecessary suffering on animals but also poses a public health risk due to unsanitary conditions. We urgently need this Special Act to end the dog meat industry and provide Support for farmers during the transition.”

According to estimates, approximately one million dogs are intensively bred in substandard conditions on thousands of farms across South Korea. These dogs are often confined to small, wire cages without proper access to food, water, shelter, or veterinary care. Common health issues include painful skin and eye infections, diseases, and untreated injuries resulting from fights due to boredom and frustration. Many of these dogs are born on the farms, while others are abandoned pets still wearing their collars when they are sent for slaughter. The most common method of killing the animals is through electrocution.

The proposed Special Act includes provisions for establishing a plan to close dog meat farms and related businesses while ensuring the protection of dogs from farms that voluntarily choose to close within five years of the Act’s implementation. Furthermore, it grants the authority to form a committee, consisting of up to 25 representatives from relevant ministries and stakeholders, to oversee the process of ending the dog meat industry.

If the bill passes, financial assistance will be provided to legally registered dog farms to Support their closure or transition. Similar to HSI/Korea’s Models for Change program, participating farmers will receive subsidies to aid their transition and will be offered career change training or guidance.

The full ban on breeding and slaughtering dogs for human consumption will come into effect five years after the law’s enactment. This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards the eradication of the dog meat industry in South Korea, addressing both animal welfare concerns and public sentiment on the matter.

How to Stop the Dog Meat Trade

There are many options available if you want to help stop the dog meat trade. First and foremost educating yourself and others of the dangers associated with eating dog meat is critical to bringing an end to this practice. Humane Society International has a wealth of information and resources to help and they also run large campaigns encouraging country leaders to take action to ban the trade altogether.

Sign this petition to stop the Yulin Dog Meat Festival now!

Speak Up Tee By Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection

Related Content:

• Chinese Activists Save 19 Dogs from Notorious Yulin Dog Meat Festival
• 22 Lucky Dogs Rescued from Dog Meat Trade and Rehomed in the US
• This Pup Was Saved From the Dog Meat Trade and Made an Unbelievable Transformation
• Petition: Help End the Yulin Dog Meat Festival
• 126 Dogs With Pet Collars Rescued from Dog Meat Slaughterhouse in China

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!