[Exclusive] 'Ban on Dog Meat Consumption' Begins in Earnest... Nationwide City and Province TF Formation Completed

Task Force for Ending Dog Meat Consumption in 17 Cities and Provinces Fully Formed
47% in Si/Gun/Gu... Administrative Procedures Expected to Accelerate
Seoul City Plans Support for Business Transfer and Closure from Second Half of Year

Follow-up measures for the dog meat consumption ban law enacted last February have begun in earnest. With the formation of 'Dog Meat Consumption Ban TF (Task Force)' completed across all cities and provinces nationwide, discussions on setting criteria for business closure support are also progressing step by step. Although some oppose the law citing insufficient 'social consensus,' the President has stated, "A law does not require 100% public approval to be enacted. If the public says the culture has changed, then it is time to proceed," indicating that additional administrative procedures are expected to accelerate.

On the 3rd, an investigation into the status of dog meat consumption ban TF formation by city, province, and district revealed that all 17 cities and provinces nationwide have completed the formation of their TFs. In Seoul, a team of eight members has been operating since last month, sharing weekly updates on related tasks with autonomous districts. Plans have been made to respond to central-local working group coordination and departmental guidelines, and from the second half of the year, to support the closure and cessation of related businesses in the industry.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Each TF was organized with different departments in charge depending on dog farm owners, slaughterhouse operators, distributors, and restaurant operators. For farm owners, the animal protection and livestock department is responsible, while distributors and restaurant operators fall under the food and hygiene department. According to a 2022 government survey, there are 1,156 farms nationwide raising dogs for consumption, and 1,666 restaurants selling dog meat.

With the TF formation for practical work completed at local governments, the administrative procedures, which had been criticized as sluggish even after the law’s enactment, are expected to proceed immediately. The Special Act on Ending Dog Meat Consumption, promulgated on February 6, states that support will be provided when related facilities close or cease operations, but confusion arose as criteria had not been established. Associations such as the Dog Meat Industry Association filed constitutional complaints, claiming the government infringed on property rights by failing to properly set compensation standards.

However, TF formation at the city, county, and district levels varies by local government, with about 47% completed. Ulsan and Chungbuk have fully formed TFs in 5 and 11 cities/counties/districts respectively, but some areas have yet to form any TF at the city/county/district level. A government official explained, "There are interdepartmental disagreements in some places, and we are working on coordination to complete the formation."

The TF is expected to play a practical role in actively encouraging and supporting the transition or closure of related businesses during the three-year grace period before the law takes effect. According to the 'Regulations on Reporting of Dog Breeding Farms, etc.,' enacted on the same day as the special law, related workers must submit an operation report by May 7, three months after the law’s promulgation, and a closure implementation plan by August 5, six months later. The TF will review and accept the implementation plans and regularly monitor the progress. The key 'support fund amount' is also expected to be calculated based on the sales figures reported by dog meat-related businesses.