According to the Associated Press reported on the 25th, the South Korean government said on Thursday that it will set up a task force to consider whether to ban the consumption of dog meat. Previously, south Korean presidents had proposed to consider ending the centuries-long practice of South Korean folk.
Image source: Visual China
In South Korea, fewer restaurants serving dog meat are decreasing as young people feel that dog meat is no longer so delicious and pet dogs are becoming more popular.
In a statement, seven South Korean government departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture, said they had decided to set up a panel of officials, civil society experts and relevant organizations to make recommendations on a possible ban on dog meat consumption. The group will gather information about kennels, restaurants and other facilities while reviewing public comments.
"With the rapid increase in the number of households owning pets and the growing public interest in animal rights and welfare in our country, a growing number of voices say it is now difficult to consider dog meat consumption as just a traditional food culture." South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said.
The South Korean government said the move did not guarantee a ban on dog meat. The joint statement pointed out that on the issue of dog meat consumption, "the public's awareness of the basic rights (eating favorite foods) and animal rights issues are complex and tangled."
This seemingly vague position quickly drew protests from the dog breeding industry and animal rights activists.
Farmers say the working group was set up as little more than a form of seeking to shut down their farms and dog meat restaurants, while activists argue that the government's statement lacks the resolve to ban dog meat consumption.
Zhu Yongfeng, secretary general of the Korean Association of Dog Breeders, accused the government of "trampling" on people's right to eat whatever they want and the right of South Korean farmers to survive.
Lee Won-bok, president of the Korean Animal Protection Association, called the government's announcement "very disappointing" because it did not include any specific plans on how to ban dog meat consumption.
Li Yuanfu said: "We are deeply suspicious of whether the government is determined to stop the consumption of dog meat."
Zhu Yongfeng said that dog farmers, most of whom are poor and elderly, hope that the government will temporarily legalize dog meat consumption for about 20 years, and the demand is expected to gradually decrease.
Animal rights groups oppose eating dog meat Source: Visual China
Li Yuanfu said animal rights groups want to end such behavior as soon as possible. "South Korea is the only developed country where people are still eating dog meat, and this practice is damaging our international image," he said.
In South Korea, about 1 million to 1.5 million dogs are slaughtered and eaten each year. Currently, the consumption of dog meat is neither legal nor explicitly prohibited in South Korea.
(Editor: ZLQ)