Three Members of the Dog Meat Association Arrested at Yongsan While Holding a Rally to Repeal the 'Dog Meat Ban Law'

At the presidential office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, members of the Korea Dog Meat Association who were demanding the withdrawal of the 'Dog Meat Consumption Ban Act' clashed with police during a rally and were arrested on the spot.

As the government and the People Power Party have decided to promote the enactment of a special law to end dog meat consumption within this year, participants at a rally held by the Korea Dog Meat Association and others in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 30th are urging the suspension of the dog meat ban legislation.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 30th, the Yongsan Police Station in Seoul announced that they had arrested three people, including Kim Byung-guk, president of the Korea Dog Meat Association, and Jeon Kyung-hoon, director of the association, on charges of obstructing official duties and violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

The Korea Dog Meat Association held a rally in front of the presidential office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, from 1 p.m. that day, demanding the withdrawal of the Dog Meat Consumption Ban Act. They claimed, "There was not a single discussion or communication with the 10 million citizens who consume dog meat, the farmers raising dogs for consumption, and the 1 million workers involved," and argued that "the people's right to food is being taken away and the livelihood of workers is being trampled."

As a form of protest, the Korea Dog Meat Association announced a performance in which dogs being raised would be released in front of the presidential office. In response, the police set up 11 checkpoints and inspected the vehicles of association members. During this process, a vehicle carrying dogs attempted to enter, and when the police tried to stop it and tow the vehicle, a physical altercation occurred. The trucks were moved to a nearby parking lot from the rally site around 2:15 p.m. that day.

Jeong Hwang-geun, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, expressed full agreement on the need to end dog meat consumption during the National Assembly Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee audit on the 10th. The government is supporting the passage of the Dog Meat Consumption Ban Act. Both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea are also building consensus for the act's passage.

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