Hundreds of dog meat farms in South Korea have closed since August 2024, following a law banning dog meat and a policy to support closed farms, with support of up to 600,000 won (10.5 million VND)/dog.
A dog meat farm in Pyeongtaek city in South Korea.
Yonhap News Agency reported on February 10 that about 40 percent of dog farms in South Korea have voluntarily closed since last year, when the country enacted a law banning the consumption of dog meat.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 623 of the 1,537 dog meat farms nationwide have closed since the special law banning the breeding and slaughter of dogs for meat was enacted in August 2024.
Of the 449 farms that have closed, they were small farms with fewer than 300 dogs. In addition, the farms that have closed include 153 medium-sized farms with 300-1,000 dogs and 21 large farms with more than 1,000 dogs.
The South Korean government aims to eliminate all domestic dog meat trade, including breeding and distribution, by early 2027. To achieve this goal, the government is currently encouraging all local dog meat traders to voluntarily cease their operations, according to The Korea Times.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs predicts that about 938 dog meat farms, or 60%, will close by the end of this year.
To help dog meat businesses comply with the upcoming law, the government said it is providing guidance on business closures, as well as consultation and additional support for starting new business ventures.
For those who have not yet closed their dog meat farms, the authorities said they will regularly monitor them for any changes, such as farm size and dog numbers, and provide updates on government support to persuade them to close sooner.
The government supports dog farms based on the length of their closure, with support ranging from 225,000 to 600,000 won (VND3.9-10.5 million) per dog.
After the above law is applied in 2027, violators can face up to 2 years in prison or a fine of 30 million won (about VND555 million).
The habit of eating dog meat in Korea is said to have existed for centuries, but in recent decades it has decreased as awareness of animal rights has increased and the number of people keeping dogs as pets has also increased.