Son Won-hak, the owner of a dog farm in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, looks over his property, Monday. Korea Times photo by Heo Yoo-jung

Son Won-hak, 63, a dog farm owner in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, expressed his frustration with the government's plan to phase out dog meat, stating, "Shutting down dog farms for government compensation? That's nearly impossible."

Son, who has operated his farm for 20 years, criticized the plan for failing to consider real-world challenges.

"It takes two to three years just to close or transition businesses, and I would have to survive without income for at least five years. The compensation offered by the government is far from enough," he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs announced on Sept. 26 its plan to make Korea dog meat-free, offering financial support to encourage early closures of dog farms and related businesses.

However, stakeholders, including farm owners and dog meat vendors, have responded skeptically, expressing concerns about their livelihoods and the practical challenges of managing the hundreds of thousands of dogs currently in the industry.

The government's plan includes financial support for farm owners based on the timing of their closure, with compensation ranging from 225,000 to 600,000 won ($170 to 450) per dog.

After the closure, remaining dogs will be managed by local animal shelters. If shelter capacity is insufficient, the remaining dogs will temporarily stay on the farms under government supervision.

Bae Hyun-dong, 77, who has run a dog meat soup restaurant in Gyeongdong Market, Dongdaemun District, Seoul, for 58 years, prepares for the lunch rush, Monday. Korea Times photo by Kim Tae-yeon

Concerns of dog farmers

Farmers argue that the plan is unrealistic.

Song Bong-hyun, a 57-year-old farmer with 1,200 dogs, expressed frustration: "If I agree to early closure, I must give up ownership of the dogs, but the government may still charge me for their care. What am I supposed to do?"

Kang Jeong-yoon, another farmer, questioned whether the government could effectively enforce a complete phase-out in three years, considering the difficulties of selling or returning dogs in the current market.

Dog meat vendors are similarly pessimistic.

Many, like 77-year-old Bae Hyeon-dong, who has been selling dog meat for 58 years, expressed concerns about finding new employment at his age.

"I've been doing this my entire life. It's not easy to switch careers, especially at this age," Bae said.

Son Won-hak, 63, checks on dogs and feeds them at a dog farm in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Korea Times photo by Heo Yoo-jung

Fate of released dogs

A major concern is the fate of the dogs left behind. Shelters across the country can only accommodate around 20,000 dogs, while approximately 466,000 dogs are currently being raised on farms. The lack of adequate monitoring personnel further complicates the management of these remaining animals.

Shin Ju-un, from the Korea Animal Rights Advocates, said, "The government promised to expand the protection infrastructure, but the capacity is still insufficient. If the dogs remain on farms, there must be proper oversight."

Experts emphasized the importance of realistic and actionable plans to ensure the welfare of these animals.

While there is broad support for the idea of improving animal welfare, experts agree that more concrete exit strategies are necessary.

Jo Hee-kyung, head of the Korean Animal Welfare Association, warned that without realistic measures, the dogs could face inhumane conditions or worse.

Bae Soo-ho, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University, said, "Farm owners are stuck in a difficult situation. The government needs to present a more detailed exit plan for these businesses."

Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Vice Minister Park Beom-su speaks at a briefing at the Government Complex Sejong on Sept. 26, explaining the basic plan to phase out dog meat consumption. Courtesy of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.