OREANDA-NEWS In the Republic of Korea, the National Assembly approved a law banning the breeding of dogs for meat, their slaughter and the sale of dog meat, Yonhap reports. 208 deputies voted for this ban, two abstained, and there were no votes against it.

It is expected that the law will fully enter into force in 2027 after a three-year transition period. Violators of all imposed prohibitions will face a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,768) or two to three years in prison. Actually, eating dog meat will not be punished by anything.

For those who have been professionally engaged in breeding dogs for meat, the law promises assistance in business reorientation, job support and subsidies. All such companies will have to submit to local officials a plan to switch to other sources of income if they plan to continue working.

According to the government, there are about 1,150 dog farms in the country, 34 slaughterhouses, 219 dog meat distribution companies and about 1,600 restaurants with such meat on the menu.

The bill was passed with the support of both the ruling People's Power party and the main opposition Democratic Party, the agency notes. The ban on eating dog meat was one of the election promises of current President Yoon Seok-yeon, and First Lady Kim Kong-hee openly advocated this ban, Yonhap recalls and notes that the president and his wife have four dogs and three cats.

AR notes that in recent decades, dog meat in South Korea has been losing popularity, especially among young people, amid the intensification of animal rights organizations. Polls show that more and more citizens are in favor of banning this tradition, although 20-25% of respondents still support its preservation, even if they do not eat dog meat themselves. For example, a Gallup poll conducted in 2023 showed that over the past 12 months, only 8% of Koreans have eaten dog meat, compared to 27% in 2015.