Korea to help dog meat restaurants get out of the business

The Korean government said Tuesday it would help the owners of dog meat-related businesses leave the industry or close their establishments before the grace period for a recently enacted ban on the controversial dish ends.

People walk by a dog meat restaurant in Jongno District, central Seoul, on July 15. [NEWS1]

The Korean government said Tuesday it would help the owners of dog meat-related businesses leave the industry or close their establishments before the grace period for a recently enacted ban on the controversial dish ends.

Penalties for breeding, slaughtering, and distributing dogs for human consumption will be applied from February 2027 under the Special Act to End the Breeding, Slaughter and Distribution of Dogs for Human Consumption.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will enforce the new laws starting Wednesday. Under the enforcement decree of the special act, the government will provide support for dog breeding farms that go out of business, including money to facilitate the closure of facilities and maintain residual value, as well as for demolition costs.

If the farms switch to other industries, the government will support loans for newly needed facilities and operating funds and provide specialized education, training and consulting.

Restaurants serving dog meat, such as bosintang venues serving dog meat soup, can participate in support projects under the Small Businesses Act when closing down. If they change their menu or the type of meat they handle, they will be supported with facility and equipment replacement costs and food hygiene consulting.

Due to the new law's enforcement, 5,625 dog farms and restaurants will have to close down or change industries. The specific amount of support the government will provide for closing down or changing businesses will be announced in September this year through the Basic Plan for Ending Dog Consumption. The plan will include measures to protect and manage dogs that farm owners have given up ownership of.

An association of dog farmers and dog meat restaurants previously claimed that the annual income per dog should be calculated at 400,000 won ($290) and that compensation for losses of 2 million won over five years should be made. Some speculate the government will set the compensation price at 300,000 won per dog.

“The contents of the support for closure or reorganization were prepared after gathering opinions from stakeholders, relevant ministries and experts,” the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. “We will continue to consult with relevant organizations to flesh out the support plan.” The special act banning the consumption of dogs was passed in January last year, driven by rising pet ownership and growing animal rights awareness.

A fine of up to 3 million won will be imposed for newly establishing a dog farm or failing to report such facilities. In addition, raising, breeding, slaughtering, distributing and selling dogs for human consumption will be prohibited. However, the punishment for this will be implemented from Feb. 2, 2027, with a grace period of approximately two and a half years.

The government requires dog meat businesses to submit transition or closure plans. Farms that do not submit a transition plan will not receive support and may be subject to immediate closure.

“We will support all industries subject to the ban to stably implement the transition and closure of dog meat restaurants and facilities so that the complete end of dog consumption can be achieved by February 2027, the deadline set by the law,” said Park Jung-hoon, an animal welfare and environmental policy officer at the Agriculture Ministry.

BY IM SOUNG-BIN, LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]