The Asian nation hopes to finish the age-old follow of canine meat consumption by 2027.
South Korea goals to ban consuming canine meat and put an finish to controversy over the traditional customized amid rising consciousness of animal protections.
The federal government and the ruling Individuals Energy Social gathering on Friday agreed to introduce earlier than the tip of the yr an act to finish canine meat consumption by 2027, officers mentioned.
The age-old Korean follow of consuming canine has lengthy drawn criticism from abroad. However there has additionally been rising opposition at dwelling, notably from the youthful era.
“It’s time to put an finish to social conflicts and controversies round canine meat consumption by way of the enactment of a particular act to finish it,” Yu Eui-dong, coverage chief of the Individuals Energy Social gathering, mentioned at a gathering with authorities officers and animal safety activists.
The laws would ban the breeding of canines for slaughter in addition to canine meat gross sales, native media reported. A 3-year grace interval can be matched by monetary assist for companies to transition out of the commerce.
Yu mentioned the the invoice is predicted to win bipartisan assist, which ought to enable it to sail by way of parliament.
Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun advised the assembly the federal government would implement a ban shortly and supply the utmost potential assist for these within the canine meat trade to shut their companies.
First woman Kim Keon-hee has been a vocal critic of canine meat consumption, and alongside along with her husband, President Yoon Suk-yeol, has adopted stray canines.
Anti-dog meat payments have failed prior to now due to protests by these concerned within the trade and concern in regards to the livelihoods of farmers and restaurant house owners.
Consuming canine meat is way much less widespread than it was, however it’s nonetheless favoured by some older folks. The meat continues to be served in some eating places.
Animal safety teams welcomed the prospect of a ban. “A dream come true for all of us who’ve campaigned so laborious to finish this cruelty,” Humane Society Worldwide mentioned in an announcement.
However representatives of a nationwide canine meat farmers affiliation expressed outrage, calling the transfer “threatening” to their proper to dwell.
South Korea has about 1,150 dog-breeding farms, 34 slaughter homes and 219 canine meat distributors within the nation, in keeping with authorities information. About 1,600 eating places serve canine meat.
A Gallup Korea ballot final yr confirmed 64 p.c of South Koreans opposed canine meat consumption. The survey discovered 8 p.c of respondents had eaten canine inside the previous yr, down from 27 p.c in 2015.
