In South Korea, whether or not to ban the consumption of dog meat has always been a particularly hotly debated topic. But not long ago the topic was closed. On January 9, 2024, South Korea's parliament passed a bill prohibiting the breeding, slaughtering, and sale of dog meat for consumption.
According to the new law, slaughtering dogs for food purposes can be punished with up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (about 164,000 yuan), and when raising, breeding and selling dogs for food, they can be sentenced to up to 2 years in prison or fined up to 20 million won (about 110,000 yuan), and the law will take effect after a three-year grace period (that is, in 2027).
South Korea used to be the world's leading dog meat market, having previously consumed one to two million dogs a year. Why is it forbidden to eat dog meat?
01 Korean tradition of eating dogs
In South Korea, dog meat is often used as a summer delicacy. Greasy red meat becomes tender when cooked, and Koreans believe it boosts energy and helps people resist the heat.
Although South Korea's animal protection law prohibits the cruel slaughter of dogs and cats, it does not prohibit their consumption.
Dr. Joo Young-ha, a professor of anthropology at the Korea Graduate School, explained that until the end of the 19th century, cattle were prized in Korea and could only be slaughtered with government permission.
Therefore, for Koreans, dog meat is the best choice for protein supplementation, and almost all classes like to eat dog meat. But there are also some people who shy away from dog meat.
During the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the largest international event South Korea had ever hosted, news outlets around the world criticized South Koreans for eating dog meat.
Dr. Zhu Yonghe said: "In the beginning, many people, especially the social elite, were outraged. They see it as disrespectful to Korean culture. But as time went on, more Koreans became ashamed and reflected on the tradition of eating dog meat. ”
While there are no official figures on the size of South Korea's dog meat industry, animal rights activists and dog farmers say hundreds of thousands of dogs are slaughtered each year.
02 The rise of pet owners
More than 30 years have passed, and South Korea has changed dramatically, especially when it comes to eating dog meat.
A Gallup 2023 poll showed that only 8 percent of South Koreans had eaten dog meat in the past year, down sharply from 27 percent in 2015. This is also confirmed by data provided by the Korean Association of Edible Dog.
There are now about 3,000 dog farms in South Korea, down from 10,000 in the early 2010s, but well above the government's figure of 1,100, the report said.
At the same time, the number of pet owners in South Korea has surged. According to the 2022 survey, 1 in 4 Koreans has a pet.
In December 2023, sales of pet strollers in South Korea surpassed that of strollers for the first time. Although on the one hand, it is due to the decline in the birth rate in South Korea, but it also reflects the love of Koreans for pets.
South Korea's current president, Yoon Suk-yeol, and first lady, Kim Keon-hee, are both well-known pet lovers who have 6 dogs and 5 cats.
It took the current South Korean government less than two years to introduce the bill, and successive administrations have failed to enact it since the idea was proposed decades ago. Yoon Suk-yeol's predecessor, President Moon Jae-in, had planned to introduce a ban on dog meat, but was heavily criticized.
Jo Hee Kyung, head of the Korea Animal Welfare Association (KAWA), said, "This ban is the 'only option' to stop dog abuse, and may the world no longer abuse animals in the name of tradition or culture." ”
03 Historic Act
Thai Yong-ho, a lawmaker from the ruling party, said: "Now South Korea finally doesn't have to bear the stigma of being a 'dog-eating country.'" ”
"The ruling party, the opposition and the government must now take the lead in protecting animal rights," he wrote in the statement. ”
Animal activists and lawmakers gathered outside the parliament to celebrate the bill's passage, cheering and waving posters reading "Goodbye, Dog Meat Consumption" and "Dog-free Korea is coming."
Animal rights activists have called the new bill a "historic one".
Jung Ah Chae, head of Humane Society International Korea, a South Korean humanitarian organization, said in a statement: "The time is ripe for a ban on dog meat in South Korea, and most South Korean citizens refuse to eat dog meat, they want this cruel tradition to become history." ”
"I mourn the lives of millions of dogs. Although this change came too late, I was still relieved that South Korea has a bright future for dog-friendly. ”
Animal Liberation Wave, a radical animal protection group, said the January 9 vote was groundbreaking globally and would pave the way for protecting the rights of other animals.
"The new journey towards a 'dog-free Republic of Korea' is not only the starting point for the liberation of dogs, but also provides a diverse reference and future outlook for other industrially exploited animals, such as cattle, pigs and chickens," they wrote in the statement. ”
04 State Violence?
But not everyone embraces this option, especially those who make a living from the dog meat trade.
In November 2023, while the bill was still being discussed, South Korean dog meat workers came to protest in front of the presidential palace, and even threatened to bring 2 million dogs to the presidential palace gate to release them if the bill was officially implemented.
Zhu Yongbang, an experienced dog farmer and chairman of the Korea Dog Eating Association, said: "We know that there are many people who don't eat dog meat, and the market is really shrinking. But the dog meat business is our rightful right. ”
He believes that better regulation of the dog meat industry, which previously had little to no regulation, could solve many of the questions surrounding animal rights.
Opponents include Dr. Ahn Yong-geun, a former professor of food engineering at Chungnam National University, who is known as "Dr. Dog Meat."
As one of the few dog meat researchers in Korea, he began researching dog meat during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At the time, he felt that the government and academia should pay attention to criticism from foreign media. But now, he defends eating dog meat.
According to Dr. Ernst & Young, dog meat is low in unsaturated fats and is a healthy alternative to beef or pork.
Now, however, eating dog meat is destined to be a thing of the past. Dr. Ahn Yong-geun questioned the fact that the move violated the fundamental right to freedoms in the Korean Constitution.
"You can't dictate what people can and can't eat," Zhu said. ”
30-year-old dog pet owner Lee · Lee Bora agrees. She opposes the eating of dog meat and also supports the new bill. But she added that she was "a little worried about the impact of the new bill."
"Personally, I want people to refrain from raising and slaughtering dogs for food," she said. ”
"But in principle, I don't think there's much difference between dogs, cows, and pigs. ”