How South Korea's Dog Meat Ban Leaves Farmers And 500,000 Dogs In Limbo
Reverend Joo Yeong-bong raises dogs, for a business that's now become illegal.
"Since last summer we've been trying to sell our dogs, but the traders just keep hesitating," says Joo, 60, to BBC. "Not a single one has shown up."
South Korea's 2024 dog meat ban gives farmers until February 2027 to shut down. But halfway through the grace period, farmers like Joo are trapped, unable to sell, struggling to survive.
"People are suffering," he says. "We're drowning in debt, can't pay it off, and some can't even... find new work. It's a hopeless situation."
Chan-woo, 33, faces the same reality. He has 18 months to get rid of 600 dogs, or face two years in prison. "Realistically, even just on my farm, I can't process the number of dogs I have in that time," he says. "At this point I've invested all of my assets [into the farm], and yet they are not even taking the dogs."
By "they," he means not only traders but also the government and animal rights activists who pushed for the ban. "They [the authorities] passed the law without any real plan, and now they're saying they can't even take the dogs."
Lee Sangkyung from Humane World for Animals Korea (Hwak) agrees there's a problem. "Although the dog meat ban has passed, both the government and civic groups are still grappling with how to rescue the remaining dogs," he says. "One area that still feels lacking is the discussion around the dogs that have been left behind."
The government claims local authorities will take surrendered dogs into shelters. But rehoming is proving difficult. Farms raised large breeds like Tosa-Inu for meat, dogs often labeled "dangerous" under South Korean law. Most city dwellers want smaller pets.
"There's a social stigma associated with dogs that come from meat farms," says Lee, citing fears over disease and trauma.
The result: overcrowded shelters and a grim alternative. "If remaining dogs become 'lost and abandoned animals' then it's heartbreaking but they will be euthanised," said Cho Hee-kyung, head of the Korean Animal Welfare Association, in 2024.
The government insists euthanasia "certainly" isn't part of the plan. They've offered up to 600,000 won ($450) per dog for early closures and are expanding shelters. But Hwak argues the rescue plans are vague and underfunded.
Some dogs are flown abroad for adoption, but it barely scratches the surface.
Former farmer Yang Jong-tae, 74, who shut down in 2023, says, "When I saw how they handled the animals, like they were handling people, so gently and lovingly, it really moved me. We don't treat them like that. For us, raising dogs was just a way to make a living."
But Yang still questions the ban. "If dog meat is banned because dogs are animals, then why is it okay to eat other animals like cows, pigs or chicken?"
For younger farmers like Chan-woo, the future feels bleak. "All we're hoping for now is that the grace period can be extended so that the process can happen more gradually."
Joo agrees. "Right now, people are still holding on, hoping something might change... But by 2027, I truly believe something terrible will happen."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
16-foot reticulated python found as fifth dumped snake in shocking UK discovery
Source: RSG Reptiles (Facebook) In a disturbing twist to an ongoing wildlife investigation, a fifth reticulated python has been found abandoned in North Lincolnshire. Measuring an astonishing 16 feet (5 metres), the non-native snake was discovered lying on a roadside in Twigmoor Woods, near Scunthorpe, on Saturday evening. According to the BBC reports, the sighting was made by local resident Harry Eynon, who was driving home when he spotted the enormous reptile. The case has raised serious concerns about exotic pet dumping in the UK, especially following the discovery of four other pythons in the same area earlier this month. Authorities continue to investigate the incident. 'We were shocked to say the least,' Eynon said, 'but also a little scared because it's not something you see every day in this country.' Reticulated python found in Lincolnshire Woodland after 10 days in the cold As reported, the python, later named "Dave" by his rescuers, was retrieved by RSG Reptiles, a reptile rescue centre located near Alford, Lincolnshire. According to Rob Stokes, the founder of the organisation, the animal was in poor health—malnourished, underweight, and suffering from a respiratory infection, likely caused by exposure to damp, cold weather conditions not suitable for tropical reptiles. Source: RSG Reptiles (Facebook) "It's been out in the British weather for more than 10 days," said Stokes. 'It's quite poor and will require veterinary care.' Reticulated pythons are non-venomous constrictors native to Southeast Asia, and while they are not naturally aggressive toward humans, they are still capable of inflicting harm, particularly on native British wildlife. 'These snakes are pets, and they're unlikely to attack people,' said Stokes. 'But they do pose a real danger to local animals. Apart from being illegal, it's just cruel to dump them like this.' Due to the similarities in species, health condition, and location, authorities and rescuers strongly believe that all five snakes were abandoned by the same person or group. Stokes stated: 'These snakes didn't end up in the same woodland by coincidence. Someone dumped them—either because they didn't want them anymore or couldn't take care of them.' Source: RSG Reptiles (Facebook) Four previous snakes discovered in the same area This latest find follows the earlier discovery of four other reticulated pythons in nearby areas, particularly Twigmoor and Cleatham, on June 15. These repeated discoveries have prompted Humberside Police's rural task force to open an investigation into potential breaches of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which prohibits the release of non-native species into the wild. The fact that all five snakes were found in the same general vicinity within days of each other strongly suggests they were abandoned deliberately. Abandoned pythons raise alarm over exotic pet crisis in the UK The incident has highlighted the growing problem of irresponsible exotic pet ownership. Stokes urges pet owners struggling to care for large reptiles or other exotic animals to seek professional help rather than resort to abandonment. 'If you're unable to manage your pet, there are rescue centres like ours that can help. Don't just leave these animals to suffer and possibly die in the wild.'m Currently, all five rescued pythons are being housed at RSG Reptiles. The centre has since launched an online fundraising appeal to cover veterinary expenses and to build proper enclosures for the growing number of snakes under their care. Photos released by RSG Reptiles show the snakes being handled by Rob Stokes, his partner, and son highlighting the size and striking appearance of the rescued animals, including some with gold and white colouration. In a statement, Humberside Police confirmed that the fifth snake was 'taken away safely' and acknowledged that another python may have been found dead in the same area. Investigations are ongoing. 'Inquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the reports and identify those involved,' the police said. 'We appeal to anyone who has information to contact us.' Also Read | Black mamba vs Gaboon viper: Which is Africa's deadliest snake on the basis of venom, size, habitat and more
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Indian Express
Between ‘pawtriots' and protesters, finding middle ground in India's dog war
Brandy Tehsin didn't have a tail. He wagged his whole butt. In an age when having pet dogs was not in vogue, Brandy was the diva of Panchwati, our colony in Udaipur, where he would do his nightly rounds. The devilish Doberman that considered not just our compound but the whole of Panchwati his kingdom didn't let out one bark when we had a sea of people come to pay homage on my Dadaji's passing. I'm not sure I fit the definition of a 'dog person'. By that definition, I am more of a snake or crocodile person. But I know I am a person who will want to cuddle a dog and talk to it in baby voices. I'm also that person who thinks that unvaccinated, unsupervised, unsocialised street dogs should not be roaming in packs on our streets or edges of forests, terrorising both children at play and skittish blackbucks. And that, my dear reader, is how you lose both your dog-loving and dog-loathing friends. We are a planet divided. Not over the big philosophical questions — like, is there life after death, or why do airlines serve paneer for vegetarians in every single meal — but over dogs who delight and divide us. At one end of the spectrum are the pawtriots, the uber Dog Lovers. They speak fluent Barkish, wear 'Dog Mom' T-shirts, and believe their furry friend's opinion on a potential partner matters more than their own. At the other end are the Dog Dissenters, people who look at a wagging tail the way some look at their electricity bills in summer. Between these two warring factions, there are people in the no-man's land, trying to find a balance for a creature that gives us undiluted affection, zero passive-aggressive comments and is also the cause of thousands of deaths every year in India alone. Last year, when I was in Udaipur, four-year-old Reshma, who had come with her parents from Madhya Pradesh to pay homage to the tomb of Mastaan Baba, was mauled by a stray dog. Her parents rushed her to hospital, but Reshma was declared dead on arrival. India records 20,000 human deaths due to rabies annually — 35 per cent of the global total (Global Alliance for Rabies Control). The primary culprit? Free-ranging dogs. Add to that the countless cases of children, cyclists, elderly people and delivery workers being attacked or chased. Some attacks turn fatal. One of BBC's articles in 2016 was titled 'Do India's stray dogs kill more people than terror attacks?' The fact that it is mainly the children (and adults) of lower income groups who are affected leads to apathy in the middle and higher income groups towards this problem. Then there's the impact on wildlife. In protected forests and urban fringes, packs of feral dogs chase deer, kill ground-nesting birds, raid nests and occasionally even manage to bring down a leopard. One of the greatest threats to the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard is stray dogs. Dogs are now among the top invasive species globally, posing a threat to over 200 endangered species worldwide — it's ecological mayhem. Modern India's streets are today a grand buffet of garbage. And dogs, scavengers by nature, have happily adapted. These strays are not strays in the traditional sense — they're free-ranging community animals, fed and loved by some, feared and resented by others. Add a lack of sterilisation, haphazard urban planning, an exploding garbage problem and you have 60 million plus street dogs as of 2023. Twice the human population of Australia. Humans created the conditions for this to happen. Then we did what we do best — polarised the issue. On one side are activists who fiercely oppose any removal or culling, citing cruelty. On the other side are residents forming WhatsApp groups titled #DogMenace, who paint all dog lovers as elite margarita-sipping Mogambos. In the middle are people like Asad Rahmani, former director of the Bombay Natural History Society, who pragmatically puts it: 'Every dog should be a pet dog': A dog with a home, a name, vaccinations, a bowl and a human to love it. Dogs do not belong on the streets or forests. The only dogs that belong in the forest are Dholes, the Indian wild dog. But this middle ground in dog politics is as rare as a clean public toilet on an Indian highway. What does a solution look like? Definitely not Facebook fights in all-caps, but a reasonable, empathetic and evidence-based approach. Pet dogs must be registered and sterilised. It's great if people like me want an addition to the family. But my affection shouldn't add to a feral population. Implementing a robust circular economy to decrease urban garbage would not only keep cities cleaner but also drastically reduce the scavenger population. I know, that's not happening anytime soon. But a strong sterilisation drive can. Sterilisation alone doesn't solve aggression or territorial behaviour. Instead of release-and-forget, there should be more shelters and adoption centres. Our society, like the West, is increasingly grappling with loneliness and urban alienation, and needs an emotional leash. There has been an upsurge in pets after Covid. Dogs are natural emotional therapists. But to need them is not to ignore the danger posed by unsupervised dogs. We need better public policy, deeper compassion and honest conversations. Above all, we need fewer packs. And more pairs: A dog and its human. Watching the sunset. Maybe sharing a sandwich. Not chasing a sambar. When Yudhishthira reached the gates of heaven, he took the dog, not the doctrine. I hope to find Brandy there too — still wagging that tailless butt, still ruling Panchwati, only now with clouds instead of compound walls. Well, most likely I am going to hell. I hope hell has a back gate and Brandy still remembers how to break through. Tehsin is a Colombo-based writer and environmentalist
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
How South Korea's Dog Meat Ban Leaves Farmers And 500,000 Dogs In Limbo
Reverend Joo Yeong-bong raises dogs, for a business that's now become illegal. "Since last summer we've been trying to sell our dogs, but the traders just keep hesitating," says Joo, 60, to BBC. "Not a single one has shown up." South Korea's 2024 dog meat ban gives farmers until February 2027 to shut down. But halfway through the grace period, farmers like Joo are trapped, unable to sell, struggling to survive. "People are suffering," he says. "We're drowning in debt, can't pay it off, and some can't even... find new work. It's a hopeless situation." Chan-woo, 33, faces the same reality. He has 18 months to get rid of 600 dogs, or face two years in prison. "Realistically, even just on my farm, I can't process the number of dogs I have in that time," he says. "At this point I've invested all of my assets [into the farm], and yet they are not even taking the dogs." By "they," he means not only traders but also the government and animal rights activists who pushed for the ban. "They [the authorities] passed the law without any real plan, and now they're saying they can't even take the dogs." Lee Sangkyung from Humane World for Animals Korea (Hwak) agrees there's a problem. "Although the dog meat ban has passed, both the government and civic groups are still grappling with how to rescue the remaining dogs," he says. "One area that still feels lacking is the discussion around the dogs that have been left behind." The government claims local authorities will take surrendered dogs into shelters. But rehoming is proving difficult. Farms raised large breeds like Tosa-Inu for meat, dogs often labeled "dangerous" under South Korean law. Most city dwellers want smaller pets. "There's a social stigma associated with dogs that come from meat farms," says Lee, citing fears over disease and trauma. The result: overcrowded shelters and a grim alternative. "If remaining dogs become 'lost and abandoned animals' then it's heartbreaking but they will be euthanised," said Cho Hee-kyung, head of the Korean Animal Welfare Association, in 2024. The government insists euthanasia "certainly" isn't part of the plan. They've offered up to 600,000 won ($450) per dog for early closures and are expanding shelters. But Hwak argues the rescue plans are vague and underfunded. Some dogs are flown abroad for adoption, but it barely scratches the surface. Former farmer Yang Jong-tae, 74, who shut down in 2023, says, "When I saw how they handled the animals, like they were handling people, so gently and lovingly, it really moved me. We don't treat them like that. For us, raising dogs was just a way to make a living." But Yang still questions the ban. "If dog meat is banned because dogs are animals, then why is it okay to eat other animals like cows, pigs or chicken?" For younger farmers like Chan-woo, the future feels bleak. "All we're hoping for now is that the grace period can be extended so that the process can happen more gradually." Joo agrees. "Right now, people are still holding on, hoping something might change... But by 2027, I truly believe something terrible will happen."
