South Korea Shuts Down Dog Meat Trade — What Happens to 500,000 Dogs Now? (Source: Meta AI)
The world is full of unique and diverse cultures. One such unusual example is a country where dog meat was once considered a popular delicacy. Surprising as it may sound, this country is South Korea. The government of South Korea recently banned the selling of dog meat, sparking widespread uproar among citizens. The decision has disrupted a large industry built around dog meat and left those involved in the trade in shock.
South Korea officially made the historic decision to ban dog meat in January 2025, but now the government is strategising its implementation. This move has shaken centuries-old cultural traditions and caused turmoil among farming communities. A full ban on the dog meat industry — including breeding, slaughter, distribution, and consumption — is set to be enforced by February 2027, following unanimous approval by South Korea's National Assembly.
By February 2027, the entire dog meat industry—including breeding, killing, distributing, and eating—will be banned. This law is unanimously passed by the National Assembly.
While animal rights activists view this decision as a step forward in compassion and modern animal welfare, it’s a devastating economic blow for farmers and traders whose livelihoods depended on this industry. With a three-year grace period granted by the government, both people and animals are caught in a state of uncertainty.
A government report from 2022 stated that 1,100 farms were raising more than 520,000 dogs for human consumption, mostly large breeds like Tosa Inu. Government shelters are already overcrowded, and private shelters lack sufficient resources. Local authorities have been tasked with arranging adoptions, but large breeds are often considered "dangerous", making them hard to rehome in urban households that prefer smaller pets. According to Lee Sang-kyung of Humane World for Animals Korea, the government has no clear rescue plan in place, leaving the fate of these dogs uncertain.
If no plan is made to deal with these dogs, their numbers will increase, causing further problems. Despite the dog meat ban now being law, the government and civil society are still discussing on how to manage the remaining dogs. Some are being adopted abroad, but this is too limited to make a real impact. Critics warn that without a viable alternative, the consequences could be severe. Cho Hee-kyung of the Korean Animal Welfare Association stated, “If these leftover dogs become stray and abandoned, it’s unfortunate, but they may have to be euthanised.”
The government insists there’s no intention to kill the animals. Instead, it has launched an incentive programme offering 600,000 Korean Won (~$450 USD) per dog to farmers willing to exit the business. But for people like 60-year-old Reverend Joo Yong-bong, this law has turned a once-profitable farm into a liability. We’ve been trying to sell our dogs since last summer, but not a single buyer has shown interest. Not one buyer has come,” he told the BBC.
Many dog farmers feel trapped because they have no buyers and rising debts day by day. "We’re drowning in loans we can’t repay, and some of us can’t even find other jobs. “It feels like a hopeless situation,” said 33-year-old farmer Chan-woo, who owns 600 dogs. He faces a two-year prison sentence if he fails to shut down his farm by 2027. "I won't be able to handle all of the dogs at the same time," he stated. Having invested his entire savings into the farm, he claims neither the government nor activists have provided real help. “There was no proper plan. He said, "They passed the law and now say they can't even take the dogs."
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