South Korea's parliament has approved a bill that bans the breeding and slaughter of dogs for meat, as well as the sale of dog meat.
of South Korea On Tuesday, the parliament unanimously approved by 208-0 a bill on the abolition of the dog meat industry, reports the news agency AFP, among other things.
The approved bill prohibits the breeding and slaughter of dogs for meat, as well as all trade in dog meat. President By Yoon Suk-yeol after the law is signed, it will enter into force after a three-year transition period.
Breeding and selling dogs for meat, as well as slaughtering them, can result in a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine of 30 million won, or about 20,000 euros. The law does not make eating dog meat punishable.
Dog meat has long been a part of South Korea's traditional food culture, especially in the summer months, because it is believed to cool the body.
In peak years it was estimated that up to one million dogs were slaughtered in the country each year. However, consumption has dropped sharply after the increase in pet ownership.
Especially among young South Koreans, eating dog meat is now considered taboo, and the industry has been the subject of sharp criticism and opposition from activists. Activists welcomed the parliament's decision with joy.
“We have reached a tipping point where the majority of Koreans are opposed to eating dogs and want to see this suffering consigned to the history books,” said Humane Society International Jung Ah Chae in the statement.
“Although my heart goes out to the millions of dogs for whom this change came too late, I am happy that South Korea is closing this sad chapter in its history.”
The prohibition law has been pushed for a long time, and the political tailwind strengthened the president By Yoon Suk-yeol in the season. Yoo and his wife are known as animal lovers, and the president's wife Kim Keon-hee has been a vocal critic of the dog meat industry in public.
Previous attempts to ban the sale of dog meat fell through the opposition of dog farmers. The new law promises them financial compensation to help them transition to other livelihoods.
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