No More Dog Meat In South Korea As Parliament Passes Bill To Ban Practice

The South Korean Parliament passed the bill, which bans the breeding, butchering, distributing and selling of dogs for meat, with 208 votes in favour and two abstentions.

File photo of a protester in SungNam wearing a leash to depict the pain of canines during a campaign opposing the eating of dog meat by South Koreans.

Source : Getty Images

The South Korean Parliament on Tuesday passed a crucial bill banning dog meat consumption, paving the way to end the controversial centuries-old practice. The passage of the bill comes amid public calls for the ban due to rising concern for animal welfare, reported South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.

The South Korean Parliament passed the bill, which bans the breeding, butchering, distributing and selling of dogs for meat, with 208 votes in favour and two abstentions.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) jointly pushed for the ban, highlighting how the attitude towards dog-meat eating has transformed over the past few decades during the country’s rapid industrialization.

The bill also calls for providing subsidies to help people in the dog meat industry switch jobs.

According to a CNN report, customers who consume meat will not be subjected to punishment. The law would largely target those working in the industry, such as 'dog meat farmers' or sellers.  The legislation is set to take effect after a three-year grace period. Under the Bill, anybody slaughtering a dog for food can be punished by up to three years in prison or fined up to 30 million Korean won (about $23,000). Animal rights groups immediately welcomed the ban.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, known for his love of animals, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who is also a vocal critic of dog meat consumption, has led to growing support for the ban, reported HT. Yoon and Kim are known as pet lovers and live with four dogs and three cats.

According to News agency IANS,  Lee Sang-kyung, a spokesperson for the local branch of the Humane Society International, an animal rights group said, "We believe this ban marks a significant turning point in South Korea's attitude to animal protection, It is a testament to the passion and determination of our animal-loving public and politicians who reached a tipping point to consign this outdated industry to our history books.”