South Korea is planning to introduce a ban on dog meat, the nation’s ruling political get together mentioned on Friday, placing an finish to a controversy over the ancient custom that has divided generations.
Eating dog meat is neither banned nor explicitly legalised in South Korea. Consumption has dwindled within the nation over the years because of criticism from animal rights teams and the younger technology’s dying urge for food for the meat.
“It is time to place an finish to social conflicts and controversies round canine meat consumption by way of the enactment of a particular act to finish it,” Yu Eui-dong, coverage chief of the ruling People Power Party, mentioned at a gathering with authorities officers and animal rights activists on Friday.
He mentioned the federal government would introduce a invoice to enact the ban earlier than the tip of this 12 months, and that it could be anticipated to sail by way of the parliament.
The invoice, if handed this winter, will enable a three-year grace interval to part out the business, which might successfully finish the consumption of the animals by 2027.
“We will provide full support to farmers, butchers and other businesses facing closure or transition due to this law,” Mr Yu mentioned.
He added that compensation can be offered solely to legally registered canine meat farmers, merchants, slaughterers and restaurant house owners.
South Korean animal rights activists maintain likenesses of useless dogs throughout a protest towards the canine meat commerce
(AFP/Getty Images)
Agriculture minister Chung Hwang-keun informed the assembly that the federal government would implement a ban rapidly.
Nearly a million dogs are “farmed and killed for human consumption” in a 12 months, based on Humane Society International.
“With so many dogs needlessly struggling for a meat that hardly anybody eats, the federal government’s invoice delivers a daring plan that should now urgently be handed by the Assembly so {that a} legislative ban might be agreed as quickly as potential to assist South Korea shut this depressing chapter in our historical past and embrace a dog-friendly future,” JungAh Chae, government director of Humane Society International, mentioned in a press release following the assembly.
Anti-dog meat payments have failed previously due to protests by these concerned within the business, and worries in regards to the livelihoods of farmers and restaurant house owners.
Eating canine meat has been an age-old apply on the Korean peninsula and was historically seen as a strategy to beat the summer season warmth throughout the Bok Nal season between July and August. While the younger technology has largely rejected the apply, it nonetheless holds significance among the many older technology and is served in eating places.
A ballot performed in 2020 discovered that 84 per cent of South Koreans have by no means consumed canine meat and 59 per cent of residents assist banning consumption.
South Korean president Yoon Suk-Yeol and first girl Kim Keon Hee are referred to as animal lovers and have adopted stray dogs. The first girl has been a vocal critic of canine meat consumption.
There are about 1,150 canine breeding farms, 34 slaughter homes, 219 distribution firms, and a few 1,600 eating places serving canine, based on authorities information.
