Success! South Korea Banning Dog Meat Industry!

The South Korean government has announced its intention to introduce a bill to ban the dog meat industry by the end of 2023. The decision was confirmed during a meeting in Seoul, involving key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, representatives of the ruling Peoples Power Party, and Korean animal groups, including Humane Society International/Korea (HSI/Korea). The proposed bill includes a three-year phase-out period, and once passed, the ban is expected to come into effect in 2027.

Source: Reuters/YouTube

The government’s plan includes offering compensation to legally registered dog meat farmers, traders, slaughterhouses, and restaurant owners to facilitate the transition or closure of their businesses. This initiative aligns with the Models for Change program run by HSI/Korea, which has successfully assisted 18 dog meat farmers across the country since 2015 in transitioning to alternative livelihoods such as growing chili plants or parsley.

The decision to ban the dog meat industry follows significant public and political momentum, including the introduction of five legislative bills by National Assembly Members. The move has been welcomed by HSI/Korea, a leading animal welfare group campaigning for an end to dog meat consumption nationwide.

JungAh Chae, the executive director of HSI/Korea, expressed her elation, stating, “News that the South Korean government is at last poised to ban the dog meat industry is like a dream come true for all of us who have campaigned so hard to end this cruelty.” She emphasized that Korean society has reached a tipping point, with the majority of people rejecting the consumption of dog meat and advocating for an end to the industry.

With over 6 million pet dogs now residing in Korean homes and a growing concern for animal welfare, the demand for dog meat has dwindled. Recent opinion polls commissioned by HSI/Korea show that 86% of South Koreans are not willing to eat dog meat in the future, and 57% Support a ban.

While acknowledging the necessity of a short phase-out period, HSI urges the government to collaborate with animal welfare groups during this time to rescue as many dogs as possible. HSI/Korea’s Models for Change program has already rescued more than 2,700 dogs from dog meat farms across South Korea, finding adoptive homes for them in various countries.

The CEOs and Presidents of HSI globally, Kitty Block and Jeff Flocken, issued a joint statement expressing their optimism about the South Korean government’s decision. They highlighted the suffering endured by animals in the dog meat industry and deemed this announcement as the beginning of the end of dog meat farming in South Korea.

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