A legislative effort to ban the consumption of dog meat is encountering obstacles as political parties struggle to reach a consensus on the issue, facing staunch opposition from dog meat traders.
As per sources in political circles and animal rights activists, the anti-dog meat bill remains pending at the National Assembly. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is reportedly reluctant to collaborate with the ruling People Power Party (PPP) on the legislation at the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans, and Fisheries Committee.
In order for the bill to pass in the 21st Assembly, as promised by both parties, it must navigate through the standing committee and the Legislation and Judiciary Committee before securing a majority of votes during the upcoming extra plenary sessions scheduled for Dec. 20, 28, and Jan. 9 next year.
The ruling party emphasizes the necessity for the legislation to be finalized during the extra plenary sessions next week. PPP’s chief policymaker Rep. Yu Eui-dong stated, “The ban on dog meat consumption needs to be finalized in the 21st National Assembly. The subject has been controversial for decades and went through long debates, so the Assembly must achieve a fruitful result.”
The slow progress is occurring amidst staunch opposition from dog meat farmers and traders who are against the government and political parties’ plans to close down the contentious industry.
Dog meat traders are demanding a compensation of seven trillion won ($5.3 billion) for the industry, claiming there are over 3,500 dog meat farms nationwide, each raising an average of 700 dogs. This figure contrasts with a government survey, which states that only 1,150 farms exist in the country, raising 520,000 dogs.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, overseeing the trade and consumption of dogs, has allocated a 17.4 trillion won budget for next year, slightly higher than this year’s 16.8 trillion won budget.
This year marked Korea’s closest attempt to legally end the tradition of eating dog meat. The rival parties announced last month that ending the trade was a key political agenda before the general elections next year.
Five proposed bills, outlining plans to shut down the industry and support farmers’ transition to alternative vocations, are pending at the National Assembly.
In response to the slow legislative process, a coalition of 40 animal advocacy groups held a protest in front of the National Assembly, condemning the lawmakers. The groups issued a joint statement expressing disappointment that the bill failed to advance through the standing committee until the last day of the National Assembly’s regular session.
The activists warned that any further delay in passing the legislation could lead dog meat traders to demand even greater compensation, a prospect they find absurd. According to a survey commissioned by Humane Society International Korea and conducted by Nielsen Korea, an overwhelming 86 percent of Koreans do not plan to eat dog meat in the future, with 57 percent supporting the ban on the dog meat trade.
