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SEOUL. – South Korea’s parliament passed a historic ban on the production and sale of dog meat on Tuesday, as calls for the ban grew amid concerns over animal rights and the dog’s international image.
Some angry dog breeders said they planned to challenge the constitutionality of the bill and hold protest rallies, a sign that debate over the ban remains heated.
After a three-year grace period, the bill will make the slaughter, breeding and sale of dog meat for human consumption illegal from 2027 and punishable by two to three years in prison. It does not provide for any sanctions for the consumption of dog meat.
Eating dog meat, a centuries-old practice on the Korean Peninsula is neither explicitly prohibited nor legalised in South Korea. It has long been considered a source of endurance during hot summer days.
Recent surveys show that more than half of South Koreans want a ban on dog meat and a majority no longer eat it.
However, one in three South Koreans remains opposed to a ban, even if they do not consume it.
The National Assembly passed the bill by a vote of 208 to 0. It will become law after being approved by the Council of Ministers and signed by President Yoon Suk Yeo l, formalities are considered as such since his government supports the ban. – AP
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