In a historic turn for animal defense, the government of South Korea approved in January 2024 a law that prohibits the sale of dog meat for human consumption, with a deadline until February 2027 for breeders to close their operations.
The advancement was celebrated by animal welfare advocates, but the implementation is plagued by tensions, logistical gaps, and unintended effects.
Between law and practice: unsellable animals and farms with no way out
The most urgent challenge is what to do with the half a million dogs in captivity, in a context where:
- Shelters are saturated
- Adoption programs are progressing slowly
- Some breeders threaten to release animals in residential areas as a protest
“Breeders have hundreds of dogs that no one buys, impossible-to-close farms, and minimal resources to survive,” local activists pointed out.
Insufficient incentives and limited solutions
The State offered compensation of up to 600,000 won (approximately USD 450) per dog for those who close before the deadline, but the amount is considered insufficient by the producers, who denounce the lack of job alternatives and conversion measures.
Rescue groups have tried to relocate animals to countries like Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, where adoptions are more viable, although these efforts only cover a small fraction of urgent cases.
Ancestral industry and its sudden collapse
The ban affects more than 1,500 farms historically dedicated to canine meat consumption. According to official figures:
- Since January, 623 have closed
- The rest faces uncertainty and increasing social pressure
The cultural change is evident: only 8% of South Koreans consumed dog meat last year, and more than 57% support the law. However, thousands of families who have depended on this industry for generations feel abandoned by a transition they consider abrupt.
Fair transition: the pending challenge
Despite the ethical progress implied by this law, defenders of animal rights, welfare experts, and social actors agree that banning is just the first step. The real challenge lies in:
- Designing policies for economic conversion and training
- Establishing strong adoption and care programs
- Avoiding the massive sacrifice of animals rescued but with no defined destination
“Without comprehensive solutions, the closure of farms can lead to new abandonment and suffering hotspots,” warn local NGOs.
