South Korea’s parliament has passed a bill banning breeding, slaughtering and selling of dogs on Tuesday.
The National Assembly passed the bill by a 208-0 vote. Stating that Breeding, selling and slaughtering dogs for their meat will be punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million ($23,000) in fines.
They also noted that It will come into effect after a three-year grace period and after it receives final approval from President Yoon Suk Yeol.
For years, dog meat has been a staple in South Korean cuisine, with an estimated annual trade involving up to a million dogs. However, there has been a significant decline in consumption as more Koreans enthusiastically embrace pet ownership.
The younger, urban population considers eating dog meat taboo, and mounting pressure from animal rights activists urges the government to outlaw the practice.
Activists welcomed the bill, calling it “history in the making”.
“We reached a tipping point where most Korean citizens reject eating dogs and want to see this suffering consigned to the history books, and today our policymakers have acted decisively to make that a reality,” JungAh Chae, executive director of Humane Society International/Korea, said in a statement.
“While my heart breaks for all the millions of dogs for whom this change has come too late, I am overjoyed that South Korea can now close this miserable chapter in our history and embrace a dog-friendly future,” she added.
In a new survey released on Monday by Seoul-based think tank Animal Welfare Awareness, Research and Education, nine out of 10 people in South Korea said they would not eat dog meat in the future.
However, officials have utilized legal measures and hygiene regulations to suppress dog farms and restaurants in anticipation of global events like the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
AFP
