South Korean dog farmer threatens to let 2 million dogs loose if banned

Dog farm in Pyeongtaek, South Korea (Photo: AP).

Joo Young Bong, head of the Korean Dog Meat Breeders Association, announced earlier this week that his organization would release 2 million dogs near key government sites in Seoul.

"We are very angry and we are considering releasing 2 million dogs that are being kept near the Presidential Office, the Agriculture Minister's house and the offices of the lawmakers who submitted the bill," he said.

“Eating dog meat cannot be a crime like drug trafficking or prostitution,” Mr. Joo said on a radio program. “Have you ever seen anyone eating dog meat that harms others?”

Both the ruling and opposition parties in South Korea are working together to draft a law banning the consumption of dog meat.

The ruling People's Power Party's bill proposes a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a 50 million won ($38,000) fine for those involved in the dog meat trade, while the opposition Liberal Democratic Party wants a three-year prison sentence and a fine of up to 30 million won.

If enacted, the law would come into effect in 2027. Under it, the government would provide financial support to help dog meat businesses shut down.

Government statistics show that there are 1,150 dog farms, 34 slaughterhouses, 219 distribution companies and about 1,600 restaurants serving dog meat across South Korea.

Mr Joo disagrees with the figures, saying that only one-third of the farms responded to the government survey because the purpose of the survey was clearly to wipe out these businesses.

Activists argue that dogs rescued from dog meat farms may include stolen pets.

A 2022 Gallup Korea poll found that 64% of respondents opposed dog meat consumption. Only 8% admitted to eating dog meat in the past year, down significantly from 27% in 2015.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/chu-trai-han-quoc-doa-tha-rong-2-trieu-con-cho-neu-bi-cam-hanh-nghe-20231124150339901.htm