South Korea’s ruling and main opposition party lawmakers are preparing to present a special act to ban the consumption of dog meat after encountering global calls to stop consumption of the animals.
The major opposition Democratic Party, which carries a plurality in parliament, presented on Thursday to legislate the act during the previous regular session of parliament, which ended on December 9.
Lawmakers from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative People Power Party are also on board, carrying sufficient votes to pass a measure despite the resistance of farmers who grow dogs for consumption.
Park Dae-chul, head of the ruling party’s policy committee, said that nearly 10 million South Korean households grow pets. Now is the time to set an end to dog eating.
South Korea is one of few countries where dog meat is consumed and has encountered global criticism for parts of the trade that include killing animals through bludgeoning, hanging, and electrocution.
While pet ownership has increased and the public has shifted away from dog meat — with consumption declining sharply over the last several years — tries to present bans have once failed due to intense resistance from dog farmers and restaurant owners.
Kim Keon Hee, South Korean first lady has pushed to end the tradition, making a surprise arrival last month at activists’ news conference and pledging to serve with them until the dog meat industry is eradicated, the Korea Herald reported.
The ruling conservative bloc and the main progressive opposition are preparing for parliamentary elections next April, which could lead to subsidies being given to people who have long earned their living from dog farming procedures.
