D-1 Before Chobok, Dog Meat Debate Rekindled... Yukgyeon Association Says "Ban Is Against Capitalism"

Controversy Rekindled Over Kim Geon-hee's Remarks
Flames Spread to National Assembly and Political Circles
Industry Voices Opposition Over Survival Rights and Guarantees

The long-standing debate surrounding dog meat has recently reignited. The spark was lit by First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who asserted that "dog meat consumption must come to an end." The dog meat controversy has already spread to the National Assembly and local councils. Ahead of Chobok (the first of the three hottest days in the Korean lunar calendar), bills and ordinances banning dog meat consumption were consecutively proposed. The related industry is far from pleased with the political push to force legal amendments. They are raising their voices in opposition, demanding guarantees for their right to livelihood.

The debate over the consumption of dog meat has reignited. The photo shows dogs confined in iron cages inside a slaughterhouse in South Korea in the past.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Dogs as Family Members Ignite the Debate

The issue of dog meat consumption began to surface as a topic in our society about 30 years ago. Ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, animal welfare groups from Europe, the United States, and other regions pressured the Korean government through various diplomatic channels. One measure taken to reduce foreigners' aversion was renaming Bosintang (dog meat soup) to Sajeoltang (seasonal soup). Later, Brigitte Bardot, a French actress and animal rights activist, sent a letter to the 2002 Korea World Cup Soccer Hosting Committee urging them not to consume Bosintang if they wanted to host the World Cup. Dog meat consumption also became a controversy during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

While dog meat consumption was initially a controversy driven by overseas pressure, it has recently emerged voluntarily within Korea. The consensus is that this phenomenon is due to the increase in pet ownership and growing interest in animal rights domestically. First Lady Kim's call to end dog meat consumption stems from this awareness. In an interview with a media outlet last month, she said, "Not eating dog meat is an expression of respect for humans' closest friends and a respect for life."

This shift in perception can also be seen through the number of dog owners. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, last year there were 6.02 million households raising companion animals, which translates to approximately 14.5 million people. Compared to about 3.6 million households ten years ago, this number has nearly doubled. The addition of a "companion animal status" category in the Population and Housing Census by Statistics Korea also reflects the social trend of dogs becoming family members.

The World is Already Moving Toward Banning Dog Meat

Amid the polarized debate over dog meat consumption, the social atmosphere is clearly leaning toward opposition. According to a survey conducted last year by the Korean Humane Society International (Korean HSI), commissioned to Nielsen Korea, involving 1,500 people nationwide, 85% responded that they would not consume dog meat in the future. This result indicates a significant shift in public perception compared to a 2000 survey published in the Korean Journal of Food and Nutrition, where 83% of 1,502 respondents supported dog meat consumption.

The dog meat industry is naturally declining. At one time, over 10 million dogs were slaughtered annually for food consumption, but now the number has dropped to around 400,000. The number of slaughterhouses has also noticeably decreased. In particular, in Seoul, the last dog slaughterhouses in Gyeongdong and Jungang markets closed in 2019, and currently, there are none left.

The global trend is also moving toward banning dog meat consumption. The 182 member countries of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), including Korea, follow OIE hygiene standards, and no country legally recognizes dog meat consumption. Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong have banned dog meat, and China excluded dogs from livestock after the COVID-19 outbreak. Among the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which are considered advanced economies, Korea is virtually the only country where dog meat culture remains.

On the 8th, three days before Chobok (the first of the three hottest days, July 11), members of the "National Action to End Dog Meat Consumption," consisting of 31 animal rights and civic groups nationwide including Animal Rights Action Kara and Animal Freedom United, held the "2023 National Rally to Urge the End of Dog Meat Consumption" in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Political Circles and Civic Groups Say "It Must End Now"

In Korea, there is a clear movement, led by political circles, to ban dog meat consumption. A recent example is the ordinance proposed in May by the Seoul Metropolitan Council titled "Ordinance on the Prohibition of Dog and Cat Meat Consumption." The ordinance includes provisions for Seoul city to intensively crack down on unsanitary dog meat with unclear origins and distribution channels, and to encourage businesses handling dog meat or food service establishments to change their business types. It also stipulates that banning dog meat consumption is the responsibility of the Seoul mayor, who should actively promote necessary policies. However, the council reportedly postponed reviewing the ordinance, considering that social consensus has not yet been reached.

In the National Assembly, Tae Young-ho of the People Power Party and Han Jeong-ae of the Democratic Party have each proposed bills to end dog meat consumption. These bills completely prohibit all acts related to breeding or slaughtering dogs for food purposes, as well as transporting, storing, or selling food or processed products made from dogs, including facilitating such acts. However, even if passed, the bills include a five-year grace period before enforcement. Civic groups opposing dog meat are demanding a complete end to dog meat consumption during this opportunity.

On August 8, ahead of Chobok, 31 organizations including Animal Rights Action Kara and the Animal Welfare Research Institute held a "National Rally to Urge the End of Dog Meat Consumption" in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The Korea Dog Meat Association countered, saying, "Banning a health food that some weak people regularly consume for health benefits is an absurd act that goes against capitalism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.