South Korea is planning to ban eating dog meat and end the controversy surrounding the centuries-old custom, according to a ruling party official. The ban would be a major step for animal welfare in South Korea, where an estimated more than half a million dogs are still slaughtered for food each year.
The consumption of dog meat is not explicitly outlawed or legalized in the country, but it has faced increasing opposition from animal rights groups and the public. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed that 64 percent of South Koreans opposed the consumption of dog meat. The survey found that 8 percent of respondents had eaten dog in the past year, up from 27 percent in 2015.
“It’s time to end the social conflicts and controversies about dog meat consumption by taking a special action to end it,” said Yu Eui-dong, policy chief of the People Power Party, in a meeting of government officials and animal protection activists.
The proposal was welcomed by animal rights activists, who have long campaigned against the practice of eating dog meat, which they consider cruel and inhumane. “A dream come true for all of us who campaigned so hard to end this cruelty,” Humane Society International said in a statement.
However, the plan also faced resistance from some dog farmers and butchers, who argued that eating dog meat is a personal choice and a cultural tradition that should not be interfered with by the government.
Relevant articles:
– Dog Meat Consumption Set to Be Banned in South Korea, The Daily Beast, 11/17/2023
– South Korea unveils plan to ban dog meat by 2027, The Washington Post, 11/17/2023
– South Korea to take dog meat off the menu, MSN, 11/17/2023