Seoul.- Various animal groups today celebrate the bill presented Wednesday by South Korean parliamentarian Han Jeoung-ae to ban the breeding and slaughter of dogs for human consumption in the Asian country.
The bill presented by Han, a former environment minister between 2021 and 2022 with the previous South Korean government, has the support of 10 other parliamentarians, including seats from the ruling People’s Power Party (PPP).
One of the groups in defense of animal rights that has welcomed this action the most is the South Korean branch of Humane Society International (HSI), which has collaborated with Han in preparing the proposal, trying to include the resulting experience of its ‘Models for Change’ programme.
Since 2015, the program has managed to permanently close 18 dog farms for human consumption (rescuing and adopting some 2,700 dogs) with assistance packages so that the owners of these farms can transition to other businesses such as farming of chilies.
“This is a historic day for animal welfare in South Korea that will hopefully mark the beginning of the end for the dog meat industry in our country. It is clear that there is a significant social and political momentum to end the dog meat era in South Korea once and for all,” HSI’s director of government affairs in South Korea said in an email today. Seo Bora-mi.
If the law is passed, breeders of dogs for human consumption would have five years to close their farms and, with the help of public subsidies and training, move on to other businesses.
Dog meat consumption in South Korea has fallen dramatically in recent decades as the number of pet-owning households has increased.
