Plan to make South Korea dog meat-free faces resistance from farmers, vendors

Son Won-hak, 63, a dog farm owner in Yeoju, Gyeonggi province, expressed his frustration with the South Korean government’s plan to phase out dog meat, stating, “Shutting down dog farms for government compensation? That’s nearly impossible.”

Son, who has operated his farm for 20 years, criticised the plan for failing to consider real-world challenges.

“It takes two to three years just to close or transition businesses, and I would have to survive without income for at least five years. The compensation offered by the government is far from enough,” he said.

However, stakeholders, including farm owners and dog meat vendors, have responded sceptically, expressing concerns about their livelihoods and the practical challenges of managing the hundreds of thousands of dogs currently in the industry.

The government’s plan includes financial support for farm owners based on the timing of their closure, with compensation ranging from 225,000 to 600,000 won (US$170 to US$450) per dog.