14 hours ago
By 2027, dog meat trade will be history in South Korea. Half a million dogs face abandonment
As South Korea outlaws a centuries old tradition, questions arise about the fate of thousands of dogs and the people who raised them. Last January, South Korea made history by unanimously passing a law that bans the dog meat industry in its entirety. By 2027, breeding, slaughtering, distributing, and serving dog meat will be illegal nationwide, where dogs will be increasingly seen not as food, but as companions.
The legislation, hailed by global animal rights supports a shift in public sentiment. Once seen as a source of vitality or tradition, dog meat is increasingly viewed with discomfort or disapproval, particularly among younger generations. According to a 2023 Gallup Korea poll, only 8 per cent of South Koreans reported consuming dog meat, down sharply from 27 per cent in 2015.
According to South Korea's Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as of 2022, data showed over 520,000 dogs living on more than 1,100 farms across the country. While some dogs may be rehomed, rescue groups are overwhelmed, and many fear that thousands of animals could face abandonment. The law may signal compassion but its implementation poses a logistical and ethical puzzle.
For the thousands of farmers, vendors, and restaurant owners once dependent on the dog meat trade, the ban has triggered uncertainty and anger.
'Everything is up in the air,' says Chan-woo to BBC, a farmer who entered the trade ten years ago. 'The government says it will help us, but we don't know how or when. People are desperate,' he stated.
Many older farmers fear slipping into poverty, while younger ones worry about their future. Some have suggested the trade could go underground. Others say they feel betrayed by a society that once supported their work.
Recently, Mafra told the BBC that it is allocating around 6 billion Korean won per year to expand public animal shelters and support private ones. Additionally, it will provide up to 600,000 Korean won per dog to farmers who agree to close their businesses early.
While most South Koreans support the ban, resistance hasn't disappeared. Some dog meat sellers have threatened drastic protests, accusing the government of being influenced to Western influence and violating personal freedoms.
'There's hypocrisy in banning dog meat while other animals are slaughtered daily,' says one protester to BBC. 'Why are dogs different?'
But others, like activist Ms Chun, argue that dogs have a unique space in modern Korean homes as pets, not products. She also points out that, unlike pork or beef, dog meat in South Korea has long managed outside the official food safety system, raising concerns about hygiene and regulation.
While the practice of eating dog meat remains legal in several other countries, including China, Ghana, it has become increasingly taboo in South Korea. A government poll from 2024 found that only 3.3% of respondents said they would continue to eat dog meat after the 2027 ban takes effect.
'With time, people's views on dogs have evolved, They are no longer seen as food, but as family,' Chun says.
