South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sept. 27 that it was time to carefully consider banning dog meat nationwide. He called for the cessation of that traditional practice in order to avoid embarrassment at the international level. This is the first time Moon has proposed a ban, which could give new impetus to the debate over whether to limit dog meat consumption.
Moon reportedly made the remarks after listening to discussions about plans to improve the care system for abandoned pets, as well as a mandatory registration system for dogs.
Dog meat is a major part of Korean cuisine, with about 1 million dogs eaten each year, but consumption has declined in recent years as more and more people use dogs as companions rather than livestock.
Moon Jae-in, a well-known dog lover, has several dogs in the presidential palace, including one he rescued after taking office, and adopting the dog was one of Moon's promises during his presidential campaign.
South Korea's current animal protection law is primarily designed to prevent the brutal slaughter of cats and dogs, but does not prohibit consumption itself.
However, the South Korean government has cited the law and other health regulations ahead of international events such as the 2018 Olympics to crack down on dog farms and restaurants.
Moon's first proposal to ban dog meat could give new impetus to the debate over whether to limit dog meat consumption.
To boost their profile, several presidential candidates have pledged in recent weeks to ban dog meat, especially as dogs become popular as pets, and propaganda groups have urged South Korea to shut down restaurants and markets that sell dog meat.
Lee Jae-myung, the governor of South Korea's most populous province and the main presidential candidate for Moon's party, has vowed to push for the ban through social consensus.
But Yin Shiyou, the front-runner of the opposition, said it was a matter of people's personal choices.
A poll commissioned by the animal welfare group Evolve, released this month, showed that 78 percent of respondents believe the production and sale of dog and cat meat should be banned, and 49 percent support a ban on consumption.
But another poll by polling firm Realmeter found disagreements over whether the government should ban the consumption of dog meat, even though 59 percent support legal restrictions on slaughtering dog meat for human consumption.
Text/Nandu reporter Chen Lin