Lawmakers pass bill banning dog meat in Korea

The National Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that bans the breeding, slaughter, distribution and sale of dogs for consumption, marking the end of the centuries-old practice of dog meat consumption in Korea.

Animal rights advocates hold a press conference in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Tuesday, welcoming the legislation of a special law prohibiting dog meat consumption. [NEWS1]

The National Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that bans the breeding, slaughter, distribution and sale of dogs for consumption, marking the end of the centuries-old practice of dog meat consumption in Korea.

The enactment of the special legislation came 33 years after the country legislated the Animal Protection Act in 1991.

The law received bipartisan support, with 208 out of 210 lawmakers at the plenary session on Tuesday voting in favor, while two abstained.

The legislation will take effect after a three-year grace period in 2027, allowing businesses, particularly restaurants, time to adjust before strict enforcement begins to penalize those involved in breeding, butchering, distributing and selling dogs for consumption.

Under the bill, individuals found butchering dogs for consumption could face up to three years in prison or fines of 30 million won ($22,800). Those involved in breeding and distributing dogs for consumption may be penalized with up to 2 years in prison or fines of 20 million won.

Only those who process or store dog meat face up to five years in prison or fines of 50 million won under the Food Sanitation Act. However, no penalties are imposed for those who bred the dogs for consumption, allowing dog farms to continue their businesses.

The bill passed the plenary session less than a month after being approved during the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, and Fisheries Subcommittee’s meeting on Dec. 12 last year. It passed the subcommittee after the People Power Party and the government proposed the legislation in November, and the Democratic Party agreed to push the legislation in the same month.

President Yoon Suk Yeol was widely expected to push legislation to ban dog meat consumption since his wife, first lady Kim Keon Hee, is an animal-rights activist who has often expressed support for such a law, She said that banning dog meat consumption was a “presidential promise” when she visited an animal protection facility during Yoon's five-day state visit to the Netherlands last month.

Despite the three-year grace period, related businesses are expected to vehemently protest the legislation, particularly regarding compensation and disposal of their dogs.

According to government estimates, more than 1,150 farms, 34 slaughterhouses, 219 distribution companies and approximately 1,600 restaurants are engaged in producing, distributing and consuming dog meat.

The bill initially included plans to provide appropriate compensation and assistance to shut down businesses. However, the finalized bill was amended to offer “necessary” support, reflecting the government's concern about the request for compensation by “illegal” businesses. The president will entirely decide specific support measures and processes.

The Korean Dog Meat Association had requested compensation of 2 million won per dog over five years. As of February 2022, the country's dog farms were home to an estimated 520,000 dogs, according to data from an association under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This would result in the government paying over 1 trillion won in compensation.

The bill also does not address what to do with the dogs after the related businesses shut down per the law.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]