South Korea
South Korea’s dog meat problem has always been criticized by the international community. In 1988, Seoul hosted the Olympic Games. The government ordered all dog meat restaurants to be rushed to the suburbs. “Dog meat soup” should be renamed “Nutrition soup” to avoid being discovered by the outside world. But after the Olympics, the dog meat industry in the city center immediately revived. As the only organization that promotes “Explicit legislation against dog meat consumption” in Asian countries, WDA has held a series of events and activities since February 2016.
South Korea fast tracked its legislative movement in 2023 following a letter initiated by WDA and sent by 15 US Congressmen to President Yoon in August 2023. It passed the "Special Bill to Ban Dog Meat Consumption" on 9 January 2024.
Legislative Roadmap
9 February, 2016
UK Petition to urge S.Korea to ban dog meat
WDA launched online signatures, reaching 3.8 million readings, and obtained 100,000 British signatures. In the United Kingdom, it is stipulated that the right to sign jointly by more than 100,000 people must be entered into by Parliament.
12 September, 2016
Closure of Moran Dog Meat Market
The British Parliament accepted WDA's petition reaching 100,000 signatures, and passed a resolution after four hours of debate, confirming the decision that the UK will negotiate with the South Korean government diplomatically to ban the use of dog meat.
In response, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung announced that he had reached an agreement with the representative chamber of commerce in the Moran Market, the largest dog meat market in Korea, not to slaughter dogs on 12 December 2016.
24 November, 2017
International Forum on Banning Dog Meat in Seoul
WDA held an International Forum on Banning Dog Meat in Seoul to promote South Korean congressmen to submit a motion on banning dog meat to the National Assembly. South Korean Congressman Pyo Cangwon gave a speech.
20 June, 2018
Pyo to amend the Animal Protection Act
Congressman Pyo submitted to the congress to amend the Animal Protection Act, prohibiting the slaughter of dogs and cats for food, and received joint support from 200,000 people at the Blue House.
17 July, 2018
"Tori" Seoul City Hall Dog Meat Ban Event
WDA and the South Korean animal protection organization CARE held a dog meat ban conference in the Seoul City Hall. South Korean President Moon Jae-in's pet dog Tori participated in the day's event, which attracted more than 30 mainstream Korean media interviews on the spot, which caused a huge response. Peng Waiming, the representative of WDA, met with the eldest daughter of the South Korean President and handed in a petition letter for fasting dogs and cats. She forwarded the letter to President Moon Jae-in.
7 August 2023
US Lawmakers Write to President Yoon of Calling for Swift Legislation to Ban Dog Meat
With the help of Congressman Andrew Garbarino, ten bipartisan Members of Congress sent a letter to South Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol, calling on the country to accelerate its legislative process to end the consumption of dog meat and support International Agreement to Prohibit the Eating of Dogs and Cats.
30 August, 2023
1st Lady Kim Lent Support to Dog Meat Ban
On 30 August, following the Congressional letter to President Yoon, First lady Kim Keon Hee caught everyone by surprise by saying she would work with animal activists until the dog meat industry is eradicated in Korea, becoming the most high profile figure to lend support to the cause in the country.
12 December, 2023
Committee Passed Bill Aimed at Banning Dog Meat Consumption
The standing committee for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs passed a special bill that aims at banning the raising of dogs for meat as well as the butchering, distributing and selling of dog meat in the country. The proposed bill has overwhelming support from both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party and is expected to be passed at the National Assembly general session.
9 January, 2024
Dog Meat Consumption Banned in South Korea
The Korea National Assembly unanimously passed the “dog meat ban special bill” (208 out of 210 voted yes, with 2 abstentions) to prohibit the breeding, slaughter and selling of dogs for human consumption.
The vote was historic and started a three-year grace period for dog farmers, slaughter houses and dog meat restaurants to transition to alternative livelihoods with government assistance.
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Seoul City Hall Tori Event
Seoul City Hall Tori Event
