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.
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, the vice agriculture minister, said the government would spend about 100 billion won ($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 ($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.
South Korea has more than 1,500 dog breeding farms and 200 dog slaughterhouses. Some 2,300 restaurants still serve dog meat.
Support for the ban, which takes effect in February 2027, has grown under President Yoon Suk Yeol, an animal lover who owns six dogs and eight cats with First Lady Kim Keon Hee, who is also a vocal critic of eating dog meat.
The government’s plan, however, drew criticism from some animal activists and members of the dog meat industry.
