This move follows the enactment of the Special Act on the Termination of Dog Breeding, Slaughter, and Distribution for Food Purposes in February, which will officially ban the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for consumption starting February 7, 2027. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – The South Korean government has announced a comprehensive plan to phase out the country’s dog meat industry by 2027, allocating more than 100 billion won in next year’s budget to support the closure of nearly 6,000 dog meat businesses nationwide.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs unveiled its “Basic Plan for Ending Dog Meat Consumption” on September 26, outlining strategies to terminate the practice across various sectors.
This move follows the enactment of the Special Act on the Termination of Dog Breeding, Slaughter, and Distribution for Food Purposes in February, which will officially ban the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for consumption starting February 7, 2027.
Currently, there are 5,898 dog meat-related businesses operating in South Korea, with an estimated 466,000 dogs being raised for consumption.
To facilitate the transition, the government has earmarked 109.5 billion won for the coming year, pending final approval from the National Assembly. This budget, split equally between national and local governments, aims to support business closures and career changes within the industry.
As an incentive for early closure, the ministry plans to offer up to 600,000 won per dog to farm owners who shut down their operations ahead of the 2027 deadline. With the average farm housing between 300 to 400 dogs, an owner could potentially receive up to 240 million won in compensation for early closure.
Additional support measures include providing residual value compensation for facilities based on appraisals and offering low-interest loans to those transitioning to other agricultural pursuits.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
