One year after South Korea's ”dog eating ban” came into effect, what are restaurants and related businesses doing now?

It has been one year since the Dog Meat Termination Act, which bans the raising and slaughtering of dogs for meat, came into force in South Korea. The law has a three-year grace period, with a full ban set to take effect in February 2027.
There is only one and a half years left until the ban is lifted. National and local governments are urging businesses and restaurants involved in dog eating to close down or switch to other businesses.
According to a survey, dog breeding farms are closing down at a faster pace than the government plans. Dog-eating culture has been deeply rooted in South Korea for many years.
The Korean people are famous for their Shintang (boshintang). There are three days in July and August called "Bonnal" (boshintang), which is equivalent to the Japanese "Day of the Ox in the Doyo Period." On these days, Boshintang is served alongside Samgyetang (a nutritious dish made with chicken).
However, in recent years, people, especially young people, have been shunning dog eating, and this dog-eating culture has faded. In 2022, the "Committee for Discussion of the Dog Eating Issue" will hold a nationwide survey of people aged 18 and over.
In a survey of 1,514 men and women, only 28.4% responded that "dog eating culture should be passed down." On the other hand, 52.7% responded that they "are opposed to the legalization of dog slaughter."
In September 2021, then-President Moon Jae-in, who was known as a dog lover and kept a dog at the presidential residence during his term in office, said, "It is time to carefully consider banning dog meat."
This sparked a heated debate about the consumption of dog meat. With the change of government, Yoon Seok-yeol, who was also known as a dog lover like Moon, was in charge of the government.
) The president has been opposed to the eating of dogs since he was a presidential candidate. In South Korea, just like in Japan, owners cherish their dogs as members of the family, and with the boom in pet dogs, dog hotels have become a thing of the past.
There are many dog-friendly businesses, such as restaurants, cafes, and beauty salons, and tours where you can enjoy traveling with your beloved dog are also popular. The word "Pekkonomy," a combination of the words "pet" and "economy," has also become established.
The market size of the pet-related industry, which was 1.8994 trillion won (approximately 209.657 billion yen) in 2015, is expected to grow to over 6 trillion won by 2027.
This dog boom also fueled the Korean National Assembly's passage of the "Special Act on the End of Breeding, Slaughtering, and Distribution of Dogs for Meal Purposes (Dog Meal Eradication Act)" in January 2024.
When the bill was voted on at the general meeting of the association, 208 out of 210 members present voted in favor, 2 abstained, and no one opposed. At the time the bill was passed, an animal protection group held a press conference and said, "It is tolerated in the name of tradition.
"The passage of the bill will put an end to dog eating, which has been a hindrance to improving animal welfare. I wholeheartedly welcome it," he said. The media also reported the passing of the bill. The law prohibits the keeping, breeding, and slaughtering of dogs for the purpose of eating.
The law also prohibits the distribution and sale of food made from dog meat. Anyone who kills a dog for meat purposes will be subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won (approximately 3.17 million yen).
The bill came into force in August of the same year, but a grace period was set, and the penalty clauses will be applied from February 2027. The grace period is still in effect, but the national and local governments have been taking measures against dog slaughterhouses and
The law provides support to distributors, restaurants, and other businesses, encouraging them to change or close down their businesses. The law provides up to 2.5 million won to restaurants and distributors who change their businesses for the cost of replacing signs and menus, and a maximum of 10 million won to restaurants and distributors who close down their businesses.
The law will provide up to 4 million won for store removal costs and up to 1.9 million won in reemployment support. This month marks one year since the law came into effect. According to public broadcaster KBS,
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, of the approximately 1,500 dog breeding farms nationwide, 1,072, or 70%, have gone out of business in the past year.
"This is the result of a growing recognition that the end of raising animals for food is an irreversible trend, coupled with the effectiveness of policies aimed at accelerating the closure of the industry," the report said.
On the other hand, restaurants that have been serving dog meat dishes in the past, especially elderly owners, are complaining that the government's support is insufficient.
Most restaurants that serve meat dishes are part-time businesses that also offer other menu items, so changing the menu to change business is considered relatively easy. However, there is a possibility that they may lose their regular customers as a result of the change, and it may be difficult to attract new customers.
For this reason, some elderly business owners are saying they will stay in business until the end of the grace period and then close down.
In Seoul, applications for business change support have been low, so from this month to October, 11 districts in the city will
Officials plan to visit relevant restaurants and distributors to encourage them to apply.