South Korea dangles US$75 million in incentives to get rid of dog meat trade for good

Farmers can also get up to US$452 for each dog they surrender, a subsidy decried as insufficient by industry groups

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Dogs in cages at a farm in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Photo: AP

Published: 3:39pm, 26 Sep 2024

South Korea will help rehome almost half a million dogs bred for food and give dog farmers subsidies and incentives to help them prepare for a ban on the practice set to take effect in early 2027, the agriculture ministry said on Thursday.

In January, parliament passed a bill to ban the eating and selling of dog meat, ending the controversial centuries-old tradition in a country that has seen growing support for animal welfare and a waning appetite for the food.

Park Beom-su, vice-agriculture minister, said the government would spend about 100 billion won (US$75 million) on incentives for dog breeders, farmers and restaurants to encourage them to shut their businesses.

Farmers can also get up to 600,000 won (US$452) for each dog they surrender, and the authorities will try and get as many of these animals adopted, or rehomed in shelters, he added.

“Although many are concerned the remaining dogs might be euthanised or a lot of them could be processed for consumption over the next three years, I can certainly say, that is not our plan,” Park said.

Eating dog meat was once seen as a way to improve stamina in the humid Korean summer, but the practice has become rare as more Koreans consider dogs as pets and as criticism of how the dogs are slaughtered has grown.