Following the lunar calendar, the three hottest days of the year in South Korea, which usually fall in mid-July, are known as Boknal. At this time, for a long time, it has been tradition in some homes to swallow the famous boshintang, a stew based on boiled dog meat. This dish has always been linked to the belief that it helps people resist heat stroke and summer humidity. A tradition that has been so ingrained to the point that, according to reports from the meat industry, almost 80% of the dog meat consumed in the Asian nation, is eaten during the Boknal.
Since 2017, there is an animal protection law in South Korea that classifies dogs as companion animals. But that doesn't mean they leave the food plate. The legislation does not prohibit consuming them as food.
The vast majority of South Koreans do not eat dogs. That's what national surveys say, especially when you ask young urbanites, scandalized that dog meat continues to appear on the menus of many restaurants. Animal groups estimate that up to one and a half million dogs a year are raised for their meat on South Korean farms, only to be slaughtered and consumed in summer stews. The most used for meat are the nureongi mestizos, of medium size and yellowish fur.
The debate over whether the South Korean government should ban the consumption of dog meat is not new. In 2021, the cabinet of former progressive President Moon Jae-in already announced that it would establish a working group to study this ban. The current Executive, led by the conservative Yoon Suk-yeol, is going in the same direction.
The battle to stop the killing of dogs
The current battle to stop the killing of dogs for their meat is led by first lady Kim Keon-hee, who met last week with several animal groups. "I will try to end the consumption of dog meat before the end of this government's term. I think that's my duty," Kim promised.
Last year, after her husband's victory at the polls, the first lady gave an interview explaining that South Korea and China are the only countries among the major economies where people still eat dogs. "It's a problem that can be solved through policy, for example, by supporting people who work in the dog meat industry to change jobs," he said.
Precisely, it has been the dog meat industry that threw itself on Kim a few days ago for his recent comments. "Siding with animal rights groups, which are interest groups, and calling for a ban on dog meat consumption is an obvious political activity that exceeds their authority," responded a statement signed by farm owners.
Following the first lady's campaign in South Korea's parliament, lawmakers from the ruling People's Power Party and the opposition have backed the idea of a special law banning the consumption of dog meat soon. Farmers, who resist that possible change, argued that it is illogical to ban dog consumption simply because an increasing number of people hate the tradition.
"According to that logic, if an increasing number of people hate Buddhism or Christianity, then the government can eliminate that religion. Different religions coexist in this country. The Constitution also prohibits majorities from restricting the freedoms of minorities. They want to take away people's right to eat," they said in their letter.
The organization that saves dogs
One of the animal organizations that has given more war against dog meat is Humane Society International (HSI). They point out in one of their reports that, in the capital Seoul alone, there are approximately 436 restaurants where dog meat is served. Activists from this group have been rescuing dogs from farms for more than a decade. Their data: more than 2,500 dogs saved since 2015, leading 17 farms to cease their activity.
In March, 200 dogs were removed by the HSI team from a slaughterhouse south of Seoul. "Mostly Jindos and Tosas, who have lived all their lives in miserable conditions, crammed into dirty wire cages. They are now on their way to the United States and Canada, where they will begin the search for adoptive families," reads the statement published by the animalists after the rescue.
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Dog meat soup is considered to have health properties, such as keeping the body cool in the hot summer months. Some Koreans also go to traditional medicine stores to buy gaesoju, a drink made with herbs and dog meat that is believed to be a health tonic," explains Nara Kim, HSI's campaign director in Korea.
"Over a million dogs a year suffer on farms only to be killed and end up on a plate. Dogs are now perceived as family members in all respects, so the social consensus in favor of banning their is beyond doubt," Nara continues.
Both animal rights groups and many South Korean lawmakers say there is a growing social consensus to finally ban the tradition of eating dog meat. A position that has not stopped gaining support as pet ownership has grown in recent years. According to a report published by the holding company KB Financial Group: more than six million households, or approximately 30% of the country, had a companion animal in 2020. Of those homes with pets, about 80% had dogs.
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