By Ju-min Park Reuters
South Korea goals to ban consuming canine meat and put an finish to the controversy over the traditional customized amid rising consciousness of animal rights, a ruling social gathering coverage chief mentioned on Friday.
The Korean follow of consuming canine has drawn criticism from abroad for its cruelty however there has additionally been rising opposition at dwelling, significantly from the youthful technology.
“It’s time to put an finish to social conflicts and controversies round canine meat consumption by means of the enactment of a particular act to finish it,” Yu Eui-dong, coverage chief of the ruling Individuals Energy Social gathering, mentioned at a gathering with authorities officers and animal rights activists.
The federal government and ruling social gathering would introduce a invoice this yr to implement a ban, Yu mentioned, including that with anticipated bipartisan help, the invoice ought to sail by means of parliament.
Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun informed the assembly the federal government would implement a ban shortly and supply the utmost doable help for these within the canine meat trade to shut their companies.
First girl Kim Keon Hee has been a vocal critic of canine meat consumption and, alongside together with her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, has adopted stray canines.
Anti-dog meat payments have failed previously due to protests by these concerned within the trade, and fear concerning the livelihoods of farmers and restaurant homeowners.
The proposed ban will embrace a three-year grace interval and monetary help for companies to transition out of the commerce.
Consuming canine meat has been an age-old follow on the Korean peninsula and is seen as a method to beat the summer time warmth.
However it’s a lot much less frequent than it was in South Korea, although it’s nonetheless eaten by some older individuals and served in sure eating places.
Animal rights teams welcomed the prospect of a ban. “A dream come true for all of us who’ve campaigned so onerous to finish this cruelty,” Humane Society Worldwide mentioned in an announcement.
There are about canine 1,150 breeding farms, 34 slaughter homes, 219 distribution firms, and a few 1,600 eating places serving canine, in accordance with authorities knowledge.
A Gallup Korea ballot final yr confirmed 64% opposed canine meat consumption. The survey discovered solely 8% of respondents had eaten canine inside the previous yr, down from 27% in 2015.
