Dog meat sellers demand compensation following ban

The once bustling streets of dog meat restaurants in central Seoul turned deserted, on Wednesday, as consuming the meat fell out of favor among Koreans. This void was accentuated as Korea officially banned this age-old practice on Tuesday.

The National Assembly passed the anti-dog meat bill in a rare bipartisan unity, with the law scheduled to take effect in 2027.

However, owners of dog meat restaurants that operated for years, as well as proprietors of dog farms, were not happy with what they viewed as “unilaterally pushed” legislation.

“I’ve made a living from this restaurant for over 40 years, and now I have only three years before I must shut it down. I have no idea what to do next,” the owner of a dog meat restaurant in Seoul said on condition of anonymity, while busily preparing dog soup in the kitchen.

At his restaurant that stands in a small alley a few blocks away from Gwangjang Market, a few customers were eating “bosintang,” a hot stew containing boiled dog meat, at noon on Wednesday. The area was once home to many dog meat restaurants, which have now turned into chicken soup and grilled fish eateries.

Although he admits that respect for his trade has waned over the years, he and his family have worked diligently to carry on the business for generations, serving the once-popular delicacy.

“We took out loans during the COVID-19 pandemic and did everything it took to maintain our business. But the anti-dog meat bill was passed by the National Assembly yesterday, and we feel like we’re at a dead end,” he said. His restaurant’s signboard, faded and worn out, read “taste of 100 years.”

The anti-dog meat bill prohibits the raising, butchering, retailing and selling dog for human consumption and stipulates those who violate the law are subject to a maximum three-year prison term or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,768).

Amid waning demand, several restaurant owners in the area said they still see regulars looking for the dish they deem as nutritious and tasty.

“Hang in there,” said a man in his 60s to the restaurant owner after having a bowl of dog stew. “I will eat this for as long as I can.”

Another restaurant owner, who also ran the family business for over 30 years in the area, said she is pessimistic about transitioning to another job after spending her entire life cooking and serving dog meat.

“I doubt I can start a new business from scratch, especially in this economic recession. I just hope the government support money is somehow enough,” she said.

Under the bill, the industry stakeholders are mandated to register their businesses and submit plans to downsize and ultimately close down their establishments. The registered business owners will be subject to government support money to shut down their establishments and low-interest loans, which should help them transition to another profession.

However, industry representatives believe the plan lacks proper guidelines and argue the bill “infringes on people’s basic rights to a profession, property and survival.”

“Article 23 of the Constitution states that all citizens’ rights to property should be guaranteed and any use or restriction of private property due to public necessity should be fairly compensated,” Ju Yeong-bong, secretary-general of the Korean Association of Edible Dog, told The Korea Times, Wednesday.

The bill initially mentioned “fair compensation” for dog meat sellers in the draft that was passed by the Assembly’s Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee. However, after financial authorities asked for details on compensation, the lawmakers removed the term from the bill, which passed the plenary session, according to Ju.

The three-year grace period stated in the bill for the crackdown on the dog meat trade is also “too short,” he said, or at least shorter than the seven-year term previously agreed between animal rights groups and his association last year.

“Most dog meat sellers are senior citizens who invested their entire fortune to run the businesses. It’s highly unlikely that they can successfully transition to another job at this point,” he said.

Ju believes dog meat farmers are entitled to receive support money of 2 million won per canine and additional expenses they received from local governments for handling food waste, which was served as feed for dogs in the farms.

“Also, restaurant owners should be given at least five years’ worth of compensation based on any income tax they paid,” he added.