Yeoju City Holds Briefing Session on Basic Plan to End Dog Meat Consumption

Yeoju City is holding a meeting with dog breeding farmers at the Agricultural Technology Center conference room to explain the basic plan for ending dog meat consumption and to gather opinions.

Yeoju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Chung-woo) announced on the 30th that it held a meeting with dog breeders on the 28th at the Agricultural Technology Center's main conference room to explain the basic plan for ending dog meat consumption and to gather opinions.

The meeting was attended by Kim Hyun-taek, head of the Livestock Division of Yeoju City, Kwon Hyuk-dong, president of the Yeoju Dog Meat Association, and about 30 dog breeders. The agenda included the criteria for payment of closure promotion support funds for ending dog meat consumption, the closure of farms, the schedule and procedures for switching to other livestock, and collecting opinions from breeders.

The Special Act on the Termination of Dog Meat Consumption, which prohibits the breeding, slaughter, and distribution of dogs for food purposes, has been in effect since August 7. According to the Dog Meat Termination Act, anyone who breeds, slaughters, or distributes dogs for food purposes is prohibited, and violators will face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won starting February 7, 2027.

According to the basic plan for ending dog meat consumption announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the closure promotion support fund provides between 225,000 won and 600,000 won per head depending on the timing of closure. Support is excluded if the farm violates the Livestock Manure Act by failing to report discharge facilities or violates the Building Act by having unauthorized or unreported facilities. Additionally, support will be reduced by 50% if violations of the Farmland Act are confirmed.

Currently, 35 dog breeding farms have submitted their implementation plans. Among them, 18 farms wish to close, and 17 farms plan to switch to other livestock. The period for supplementing the implementation plans is until February 5, 2025, and dog breeding farms must close by February 6, 2027, according to their implementation plans.

Kwon Hyuk-dong, president of the Yeoju Dog Meat Association, stated, “The announced compensation plan for the closure promotion support fund is insufficient to maintain the livelihoods of closing farms. For the successful termination of dog meat consumption, compensation for dog meat breeders must be made more realistic.”

Kim Hyun-taek, head of the Livestock Division of Yeoju City, said, “We will carefully organize the opinions shared today and convey them well to Gyeonggi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. We will do our best to provide consulting and administrative support for the closure and transition of dog breeding farms.”