South Korea has passed a law banning the trade in dog meat

South Korea has passed a law banning the trade in dog meat

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South Korea’s parliament has approved a bill to end the centuries-old practice of consuming and selling dog meat. This was demanded by animal rights activists.

The overwhelming majority of deputies – 208 people – voted for the draft law, writes Reuters.

The law will enter into force after a three-year grace period. Violation of the law will be punishable by imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of 30 million won (approximately 22.8 thousand US dollars).

“The bill would end the breeding and killing of dogs for human consumption. We have reached a tipping point to protect millions of dogs from this cruel industry.” said Borami Seo, an animal rights activist at the Humane Society International Korea.

Previous attempts to ban dog meat have failed due to industry protests.

Photo: HotPhotoPie/Depositphotos

Why was the bill passed?

Earlier in South Korea, it was believed that eating dog meat prolongs life. But nowadays it is mostly eaten by the elderly.

Activists say most dogs for slaughter are electrocuted or hanged. Although traders assure that there is progress and this process has become more humane.

Instead, more and more Koreans oppose this practice because they consider dogs to be pets.

The current president of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, holds the same opinion. Together with his wife, Kim Keon Hee, he “adopted” 6 dogs and 8 cats. The first lady also actively criticizes the consumption of dog meat.

A recent survey by the Seoul Think Tank showed that more than 94% of respondents had not eaten dog meat in the past year, and about 93% said they would not do so in the next year.

We will remind you that it was known about the draft law, which provided for the ban on the consumption of dog meat, back in November 2023. The government spent 2 months on its adoption.

Read also: Dogs or cats: the study showed whose owners take care of their animals more

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