South Korea’s parliament passed a bill on Tuesday outlawing the consumption of Dog meat finally ending the traditional consumption of dogs after years of nationwide arguing and debate.
The law will ban the distribution and sale of food products made or processed with dog ingredients, according to the corresponding committee of the National Assembly.
However, customers who consume dog meat or related products will not be subject to punishment – meaning the law would largely target those working in the industry such as dog farmers or sellers.
Under the bill, anyone slaughtering a dog for food and consumption will be fined 30 million Korean won which is about 23 thousand dollars, and 3 years in prison.
Anyone who breeds dogs for eating, or who knowingly acquires, transports, stores, or sells food made from dogs, also faces a lower fine and prison time.
Farm owners, dog meat restaurants, and other workers in the dog trade will have a three-year grace period to close or change their business, according to the committee.
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Local governments will be required to support those business owners to “stably” transition to other businesses.
The bill now heads to the president for approval and signature, thus ending a long-practiced tradition that South Korea saw as a source of protein when the poverty rate was higher.
Lee, the HSI manager, was optimistic that the bill’s grace period and relief measures would help keep dog farmers afloat. “But now with the bill, having a compensation package (and) financial support from the government, I think it’s the right time to leave the industry for them as well.” He said.