SEOUL, Nov 17 (Reuters) – South Korea goals to ban consuming canine meat and put an finish to the controversy over the traditional customized amid rising consciousness of animal rights, a ruling social gathering coverage chief stated on Friday.
The Korean follow of consuming canine has drawn criticism from abroad for its cruelty however there has additionally been growing opposition at home, significantly from the younger era.
“It is time to place an finish to social conflicts and controversies round canine meat consumption by the enactment of a particular act to finish it,” Yu Eui-dong, coverage chief of the ruling People Power Party, stated at a gathering with authorities officers and animal rights activists.
The authorities and ruling social gathering would introduce a invoice this yr to implement a ban, Yu stated, including that with anticipated bipartisan help, the invoice ought to sail by parliament.
Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun informed the assembly the federal government would implement a ban shortly and supply the utmost attainable help for these within the canine meat trade to shut their businesses.
First girl Kim Keon Hee has been a vocal critic of canine meat consumption and, alongside along with her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, has adopted stray dogs.
Rescue employees from Humane Society International rescue a canine at a canine meat farm in Wonju, South Korea, January 10, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Anti-dog meat payments have failed prior to now due to protests by these concerned within the trade, and fear in regards to the livelihoods of farmers and restaurant homeowners.
The proposed ban will embrace a three-year grace interval and monetary help for businesses to transition out of the commerce.
Eating canine meat has been an age-old follow on the Korean peninsula and is seen as a approach to beat the summer season warmth.
But it’s a lot much less widespread than it was once in South Korea, although it’s nonetheless eaten by some older individuals and served in sure eating places.
Animal rights teams welcomed the prospect of a ban. “A dream come true for all of us who’ve campaigned so laborious to finish this cruelty,” Humane Society International stated in a press release.
There are about canine 1,150 breeding farms, 34 slaughter homes, 219 distribution corporations, and a few 1,600 eating places serving canine, based on authorities information.
A Gallup Korea ballot final yr confirmed 64% opposed canine meat consumption. The survey discovered solely 8% of respondents had eaten canine inside the previous yr, down from 27% in 2015.
Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies, Robert Birsel
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