The parliament of South Korea passes a historic bill outlawing dog meat

In an uncommonly unanimous vote, the South Korean parliament approved a measure banning the eating of dog meat, which President Yoon Suk Yeol has promised to become law.

On Tuesday, the National Assembly, which is deeply split, voted 208-0 to outlaw the breeding, killing, and selling of dog meat for human consumption, with two lawmakers abstaining. Legislative supporters and animal rights organizations view the bill as a reflection of the nation’s shifting beliefs.

A fine of up to 30 million won ($23,000) or up to three years in jail are the penalties for killing a dog for food. Breeding dogs or selling them for human consumption carries a maximum two-year jail sentence and a fine of twenty million won.

After a three-year grace period, the law will go into effect in 2027. The Act provides subsidies to those involved in the dog meat sector to facilitate their trade transfer. Yoon made a promise to ban dog meat consumption during his presidential campaign, and first lady Kim Keon Hee has been among the leading advocates of doing away with the practice.

Dog meat is consumed in a number of countries, including South Korea, which has come under fire from throughout the world for its share of the trade in dog meat that involves the deaths of the animals by hanging, bludgeoning, and electrocution.

Attempts to enact prohibitions have historically failed because of significant resistance from dog farms and restaurant owners, despite the fact that pet ownership has increased and public opinion has dramatically shifted away from dog meat over the past few years.

According to government data from South Korea, the country presently has 1,600 restaurants that serve dog meat and 1,150 dog farms that feed the market, according to Yonhap News.