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Reuters

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in on Monday said there might be a need to prohibit dog meat consumption amid debate over the controversial practice and growing awareness of animal rights.
While no longer as common as before, dog meat is eaten mainly by older people and is served in some restaurants and can be bought at specific markets.
Moon made the remarks after being briefed by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on efforts to improve the handling of abandoned animals and a mandatory registration system for dogs.
“After the briefing, he said time has come to carefully consider imposing a dog meat ban,” Moon’s spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee said in a statement.  
South Korean activists want animals granted legal status to crack down on abuse
It was the first time that Moon raised a ban, which is likely to give fresh momentum to debate over whether to curtail the practice.
To boost their popularity, several presidential hopefuls have pledged to ban dog meat in recent weeks, especially as dogs have become popular as pets and advocacy groups have urged South Korea to close down restaurants and markets selling dog meat.
Lee Jae-myung, governor of the country’s most populous province of Gyeonggi and a leading presidential contender from Moon’s party, has vowed to push for a ban through social consensus.
But Yoon Suk-yeol, an opposition front runner, has said it was a matter of people’s personal choice.


A poll commissioned by animal welfare group Aware released this month said 78 per cent of respondents believed the production and sale of dog and cat meat should be prohibited and 49 per cent supported a consumption ban.
But, another survey by polling firm Realmeter found people were divided over whether the government should ban eating dog meat, though 59 per cent supported legal restrictions on dog slaughter for human consumption.
Dog meat sellers have insisted on the right to their occupation, saying their livelihoods are at risk.


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South Korea

South Korea may ban dog meat consumption amid debate over animal rights

Activists wearing dog masks stage a rally in Seoul in 2020 opposing South Korea's culture of eating dog meat. Photo: AP

Animal abuse in Hong Kong: street dogs most likely to be victims, and suspects often avoid prosecution, finds study ordered to help update city’s outdated laws

Rescue dog Milo is featured on the Lion Rock Press charity jigsaw puzzle. &#xA;&#xA;[FEATURES] Photo / courtesy of Lion Rock Press

Sally Andersen, founder of Hong Kong Dog Rescue, with rescued dogs in Ap Lei Chau. Photo: Winson Wong

East Asian village dogs are some of the most genetically diverse dogs in the world, according to US-based canine genetics start-up Embark. Photo: James Wendlinger

Amanda Whitfort (centre), associate professor of law at HKU, with Fiona Woodhouse (left), director of welfare at SPCA (HK) and Marsha Chun, an investigator in the inspectorate division at SPCA (HK), who both also worked on the study, at the SPCA (HK) headquarters in Wan Chai. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Dead animals being removed after 29 pets were hurled from a Hong Kong flat’s window in 2020.

A village dog sleeps on the footsteps of a house in Lei Yue Mun village in Hong Kong. Photo: Getty Images / iStockphoto

Andersen with rescue dogs in Ap Lei Chau. Photo: Winson Wong

South Korean activists hold mock funeral to protest against ‘dog meat day’

South Korean vegetarian activists wearing dog masks stage a rally opposing the country’s culture of eating dog meat. Photo: AP

South Korean vegetarian activists wearing dog masks stage a rally opposing South Korea's culture of eating dog meat in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, July 16, 2020. Activists wore dog masks and held a mock funeral for a canine during their protests against dog meat consumption in South Korea on Thursday, the first of three "dog meat days" in the Asian country. The signs read: "There are no edible dogs in the world." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

South Korea hopes to cull its dog meat trade, but the tradition will linger on for a while yet

HAN02:HANOI,11DEC97 - Dogs look out from a wire cage on the back of a motorcycle December 11, enroute to a hamlet on the outskirts of Hanoi called Nhat Tan, famous for its dog meat restaurants. The trend of keeping dogs as pets in Vietnam is on the rise, but the tradition of eating them survives. jo/dm/Photo by Dylan Martinez REUTERS

A South Korean animal rights activist confines herself in a cage during a campaign opposing South Korea's culture of eating dog meat in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 11, 2017. Some of South Koreans traditionally eat dog meat on Aug. 11, with the belief that it boosts stamina and virility and will help them endure the heat of summer. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

An unidentified employee serves cuisine of dog meat at a dog meat restaurant in Seoul, Friday, Jan. 25, 2002. South Korean dog meat restaurant owners held a seminor to promote canine cuisine and fight off international criticism. Earlier this month, hundreds of dog meat restaurants' owners had planned to hold a rally but were forced to suspend it after organizers couldn't find a venue because of protests by animal rights activists. (AP Photo/ Yun Jai-hyoung)

South Korean animal rights activists with a dog hold a protest against South Korea's culture of eating dog meat in front of a local restaurant where a dog meat tasting session is held in Seoul Saturday, May 25, 2002. The session was held by Ahn Yong-keun dubbed "Dr. Dogmeat", a food and nutrition professor at Chungchong University, who is volunteering to provide academic support for South Korea's culture of eating dog meat. The activists have warned the Korean habit that will taint its image ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A dog farm outside Seoul. Photo: AFP

Protesters in Seoul call for banning dog meat consumption in South Korea. Photo: EPA

News

Asia

East Asia


President Moon Jae-in suggested the ban after being briefed by the prime minister on efforts to improve the handling of abandoned animals
Dog meat is eaten mainly by older people and is served in some restaurants and can be bought at specific markets



Dog meat is eaten mainly by older people and is served in some restaurants and can be bought at specific markets.


Animals

Moon Jae-in

Food and Drinks