EXTRA: South Korea bans eating of dog meat

South Korean parliament on Tuesday passed a bill banning the breeding and slaughter of dogs for consumption.

The law, which is expected to be signed by Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea’s president, was proposed by both the ruling party and the main opposition party.

The new law is expected to take effect after a three-year grace period.

During that time, dog farmers and slaughterhouses will be allowed to continue operating, but they will be prohibited from breeding new dogs for meat.

After the grace period, anyone who slaughters a dog for food could face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (about $23,000).

Lee Sang-kyung, campaign manager of the dog meat ban at HSI Korea, described the law as a long-overdue step in the right direction.

“It was once popular when our food resources (were) scarce, such as during the Korean War, but as the economy develops and people’s perception towards animals and our food consumption, food choices, and things change, then I think it is the right time to move with the times,” he said.

The bill has also met fierce resistance from dog farmers and business owners who said it will devastate their livelihood and traditions.

In November 2023, dozens of dog farmers and breeders gathered outside the presidential office in Seoul to protest the bill.

According to government statistics, South Korea had around 1,600 dog meat restaurants and 1,150 dog farms in 2023.

In a survey conducted last year by Aware, an animal welfare organization in Seoul, 93 percent of South Korean adults said they had no intention of consuming dog meat in the future, while 82 percent said they supported a ban.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, dog meat, popularly called “404”, is a delicacy relished in the southeastern part of the country.

In Akwa-Ibom and Cross River states, dog meat is often prepared with local gin and scent leaves and sold at drinking joints.

According to a 2022 report by Matthew Nash, a lead researcher of an in-depth Dog-Friendly Country Index, Nigeria was listed as the third country with the highest dog consumption in the world.