A special bill banning the sale and consumption of dog meat is unanimously passed in a 208-0 vote with two abstentions during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Korea put an end to the contentious tradition of consuming dogs as the National Assembly passed a special bill, marking a rare moment of political unity to ban the trade and consumption of dog meat.

The bill garnered unanimous approval in a 208-0 vote during a plenary session, with two abstentions.

According to the bill, set to be enforced from 2027, the raising or butchering of dogs for human consumption, as well as the distribution or sale of dog meat, are prohibited.

Those who violate the law by raising and butchering dogs will be subject to a maximum three-year prison term or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,768), while those distributing dog meat can face up to two years behind bars or a maximum fine of 20 million won.

By the first half of 2024, stakeholders in the dog meat industry, such as farmers, retailers, and restaurant owners, are mandated to register their businesses. Additionally, they must submit plans to local authorities outlining the steps to downsize and eventually close down their establishments.

The registered stakeholders will be subject to government support to exit the industry and transition to more humane professions, such as livestock breeding and agriculture.

The special act prohibits any further breeding or the establishment of new dog meat facilities.

Animal rights activists hold a press conference to mark the passage of a special bill banning the sale and consumption of dog meat, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Decades-old controversy

The sale and consumption of dog meat has existed in legal gray areas in Korea for 46 years.

Since the revision of the Food Sanitation Act in 1978, the consumption of dogs as food has been illegal, marked by the removal of canines from the act's list of livestock.

Despite the illegality of using dogs as food under the Food Sanitation Act, dog farming has remained legal under the Livestock Industry Act, which still categorizes these animals as livestock. Simultaneously, the Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act lacks regulations regarding the butchering and retailing of dog meat.

In the absence of clear legal guidelines, the evolving public perception of animal welfare has played a significant role in diminishing the controversial practice of dog meat consumption. This cultural shift gained momentum, particularly when Korea hosted global events like the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. These occasions consistently drew scrutiny and criticism from foreign media and animal rights groups, contributing to the fading acceptance of the practice.

According to the latest government study, there are 1,156 dog farms in Korea that raise over 520,000 dogs for meat consumption and 1,666 restaurants that sell over 388,000 dogs for consumption nationwide per year.

Representatives of the industry argue that the actual numbers are much higher, citing an estimated 3,500 farmers whose "livelihoods are under threat."

Most of these dogs are born and raised in filthy and rusty cages, forced to eat leftover food and slaughtered with an electric iron skewer shortly after reaching adulthood, according to local animal advocacy groups.

First lady Kim Keon Hee speaks during a press conference held by civic groups at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Aug. 30, 2023. The conference was organized to call for legislation to ban dog meat consumption. Korea Times photo by Yun Seo-young

First lady's push to end dog meat trade

The legislative development gained momentum in the political circle with first lady Kim Keon Hee's push to end the industry.

Kim, an advocate for animal welfare, repeatedly vowed to end dog meat consumption in media interviews and meetings with animal activists.

Last July, Kim had a conversation with renowned primatologist and environmental activist Jane Goodall about her efforts to end dog meat consumption during her visit to Korea.

The Assembly encountered six bills last year proposed by rival parties aiming to put an end to the dog meat trade. However, the bills faced strong opposition from dog meat farmers and traders who argued that the proposed legislation infringes upon their freedom to choose their professions and people's rights to decide what they eat.

However, the rival parties, each with their respective proposed bills pending at the Assembly, jointly declared last November that putting an end to the dog meat trade had become a primary political agenda. They reached an agreement to pass the ban.

Korea remained almost the last country in the world where dogs are intensively farmed and slaughtered for human consumption. In contrast, neighboring Asian countries with similar traditions of consuming dog meat, such as Taiwan, the Philippines, and Singapore, have already prohibited the practice.

According to a survey conducted by the local animal welfare research group AWARE and released on Monday, an overwhelming 93.4 percent of Koreans have no intention of consuming dog meat in the future. Additionally, 82.3 percent of respondents expressed support for the ban on the dog meat trade.

"This ban marks a significant turning point in Korea's attitude towards animal protection. I hope it will not only eradicate the distressing practice of consuming dogs from our society's consciousness but also raise awareness about the lives of other factory-farmed animals that endure misery solely for human consumption," Lee Sang-kyung, campaign manager of Humane Society International Korea said.