Dog meat ban faces farmer backlash

Dog meat restaurants in Seoul are seen in this photo taken on Wednesday. (Yonhap)

South Korea's recent ban on the consumption of dog meat has been welcomed by animal rights groups but has drawn the ire of farmers who demand compensation for their loss of business.

Since the National Assembly passed the related bill on Tuesday, the local dog meat association has been at loggerheads with the government over how much they should be compensated.

Daehan Yukgyeon Hyeophoi (Dog Meat Federation), a group consisting of dog meat farmers and dog meat restaurant owners across the country, has been making a string of demands.

The group is demanding financial compensation of 2 million won ($1,500) per dog, which they say is five years’ worth of profit from a single dog, reimbursement for farm equipment and facilities, on top of requesting a 10-year grace period instead of the three years set by the law.

The government's compensation plan has not been finalized, but officials have told the local media that 2 million won per dog is an excessive amount. According to officials, the government has conventionally covered two years’ worth of profits in similar cases.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has said the dogs would be the responsibility of each farmer, and that killing them is out of the question. The newly passed bill banning breeding, butchering, distributing and selling dogs for meat comes with a three-year grace period, during which farmers are required to either sell the remaining stock or send them away for adoption.

Another potential obstacle is the two sides' differing claims on the size of the industry itself. A 2022 government study found that there are 1,150 farms across the country, breeding some 520,000 dogs for meat, but the Dog Meat Federation claims that there are 3,500 farms and 2 million dogs.

The South Korean government is planning to set up a committee of government officials, animal rights groups and dog farmers to iron out the details on compensation.

Dog meat farmers have warned of drastic action if their demands go unheard. Ju Yeong-bong, the leader of the Dog Meat Federation, said Wednesday the group will take lack of proper compensation as a message to "go ahead and release the dogs," referring to their earlier threat to release some 2 million dogs from their farms in front of the presidential office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The federation in November issued the same threat, which they followed through by attempting to release 100 dogs in front of the presidential office during their Nov.30 protest. Three members of the group were arrested after a scuffle with local police.

Another pressing matter is the livelihood of an estimated 1,600 dog meat restaurants, many of which have elderly owners.

A man surnamed Lee, who runs a dog meat restaurant in Sinjin Market in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, complained about being forced out of his life's work.

"I have done this (selling dog meat) my whole life, what am I supposed to do now at my age?" said Lee, who has been in the business for 40 years.

He complained that the decision was made by those in power, without considering people like himself.

Seoul Metropolitan Council on Thursday said a revision in the ordinance for small business owners -- passed last year to aid people in the dog meat business to switch industries -- will take effect immediately.

This includes providing financial aid and legal consultation for dog meat farmers and dog meat restaurant owners.

By Yoon Min-sik(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)