South Korea’s parliament has passed a landmark ban on the production and sale of dog meat, responding to growing public concerns about animal rights and the country’s international image, Associated Press reports.
The bill, passed by a 208-0 vote, will make slaughtering, breeding, and sales of dog meat for human consumption illegal from 2027, punishable by 2-3 years in prison. The legislation provides assistance for dog farmers to transition to alternative businesses. The ban does not penalize individuals for eating dog meat.
Recent surveys show that over half of South Koreans want dog meat banned, while one in three opposes the ban.
