Animal Protection Groups Urge Presidential Candidates to Announce Animal Welfare Policies Including Ban on Dog Meat Consumption

On the 24th, animal protection organizations are performing at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, urging presidential candidates to adopt animal welfare policies.
[Photo by Kwak Minjae, Junior Reporter]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju, Trainee Reporter Kwak Min-jae] Animal protection organizations compared and evaluated the animal welfare policies of presidential candidates and argued that "the candidate who can realize animal welfare should become president."

On the afternoon of the 24th, about 100 animal protection organizations, including the Korea Animal Protection Federation, For Animal Animal Protection Monitoring Group, and the 15 Million Pet Owners Alliance, held the "20th Presidential Candidate Animal Welfare Policy Comparison and Disclosure Press Conference" at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, urging the announcement of animal welfare policy pledges, including the ban on dog meat consumption.

The organizations first pointed out that the presidential candidates' animal welfare policies are limited to companion animals. They emphasized, "there is a lack of comprehensive animal welfare policies for farm animals, laboratory animals, and wildlife," and "proper animal welfare policies are needed, not just to gain votes from pet owners."

They also analyzed the animal welfare pledges of candidates from both ruling and opposition parties. Regarding Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, they evaluated that "he pledged to ban factory-style production and sale of companion animals, establish an Animal Welfare Agency, and is actively pursuing animal welfare policies such as creating an Animal Committee." On the other hand, they pointed out that Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party candidate, "unlike other candidates, did not pledge an animal welfare policy banning dog meat consumption." Candidate Yoon previously mentioned ▲companion dog registration system ▲standardization of medical fees ▲installation of dog playgrounds in river areas such as Hangang Park ▲expansion of public land pet rest areas.

Lee Won-bok, representative of the Korea Animal Protection Federation, said, “Ahead of this presidential election, we once again urge that the candidate who can realize human welfare and animal welfare in Korea should become president.”