South Korea's dog meat restaurants face their final 'dog days'

South Korea is phasing out its dog meat industry, with a nationwide ban on breeding, slaughter, and sale taking effect in February 2027. This landmark legislation, passed in January 2024, gives farmers a three-year grace period to cease operations.

The government is incentivizing this transition by offering compensation of up to 600,000 won per dog, alongside low-interest loans and job-transition assistance. As a result, over 80% of the estimated 1,500 dog meat farms have already closed, leaving fewer than 300 still operating.

Restaurant owners and vendors report a significant decline in business, with sales dropping to about a third of their previous levels. Prices for dog meat have also tripled in some markets. This shift reflects a broader societal change in South Korea, where dogs are increasingly viewed as companion animals rather than livestock.

Musician Annie Ko, who rescued a Labrador named DeeJay from a dog meat farm in 2015, exemplifies this changing sentiment. DeeJay, who now lives safely with Ko, was one of many dogs rescued by organizations like Humane World for Animals, which has helped rehome thousands of dogs abroad. While DeeJay is the only one from his litter to remain in South Korea, his past on the farm serves as a reminder of the industry being phased out.

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The mentality we found was exceptional. Wow.