Dog meat is finally banned in Korea – as tourist reveals what it really tastes like

Dog meat has finally been banned in South Korea.

The disturbing centuries-old tradition was ended in January with the passage of a bill banning the breeding or slaughter of dogs on dog farms and the distribution of dog meat, which finally went into effect on August 7.

Previously, hundreds of thousands of dogs were bred and slaughtered in South Korea every year.

But in recent years, dog meat has rapidly fallen out of favor as the number of dog owners has increased dramatically. UPI reports.

Efforts to shut down the dog meat industry gained momentum last year when both major political parties in South Korea introduced bills to end the practice, with the support of public figures including First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

The South Korean government is now focusing on compensating the 5,600 dog meat businesses — including 1,500 farms and 2,200 restaurants and shops — that are set to close.

The government will reimburse the cost of lost equipment and renovation costs, as well as provide financial relief to meat distributors and restaurant owners before the ban takes full effect in February 2027.

Dog farmers will also receive compensation for demolition costs and additional financial compensation, the amount of which will be determined later by the government. according to the Straits Times.

Dog breeding companies that want to transform their business can also apply for government funding to renovate their facilities, as well as government-sponsored services such as consulting and training.

When the law takes full effect in February 2027, anyone who slaughters a dog for its meat faces up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $23,000.

Anyone who breeds a dog for its meat or sells dog meat can also be punished by up to two years in prison or a $15,000 fine.

“The message is clear to the relatively few people who still eat dogs: The end of the dog meat era in South Korea is in sight,” said Sangkyung Lee, dog meat campaign manager at Humane Society International/Korea.

Yet there are still dog meat producers who resist.

In March, the Korean Edible Dog Association, which represents farmers of some 1.5 million dogs, filed a constitutional complaint against the government, saying the measure violates freedom of choice of profession and freedom of choice of food.

The group also requested in July that the Audit and Inspection Council investigate alleged abuse of power to endanger the livelihoods of dog farmers.

Meanwhile, the price of black goat meat is rising in South Korea as it is seen as an alternative for dog owners.

But Melanie Ferguson, a Vancouver travel blogger, said she tried a famous dog stew called Bosintang when it was still available.

“It’s probably the most controversial thing I’ve ever done,” she said wrote in January, after the bill was first passed.

‘When I lived in South Korea, my old friends would often scold me with an Asian stereotype. “Have you eaten cat yet?” they would ask.

“No, come on,” I replied. “They don’t eat cat here – Koreans eat dog.” And so I did.

She said she chose Bosintang because it is seen as a source of vitality during harsh winters or on the hottest summer days.

‘That’s the meal I had in Seoul. Only once, alone, because I couldn’t convince anyone to come with me.

‘When it arrived on my table I have to admit it looked good.

‘Once it cooled, I took my first bite with my metal chopsticks.’

Ferguson described the taste as like beef, but with a doggy smell.

‘It tasted good too. Just like beef, the meat was tender and stringy.

‘I could smell the dog, but it wasn’t strong. The smells of the other ingredients in the stew filled my nose.

“What’s so bad about it?” I wondered, she said. “I ate until I was full.”