Goodbye! It’s Really Bye-Bye to Bosintang for Good – South Korea’s Dog Meat Ban Takes Full Effect on February 7, 2027 – Human-Written
Goodbye, dog meat stew! Bye-bye, Bosintang!
South Korea’s Dog Meat Ban Act came with a three-year grace period.
Now, two years and eight months have passed.
With just four months left, are we seeing one final push to wrap things up?
In Gangjin County, South Jeolla Province,
a dog farm where around 80 dogs had been left abandoned was discovered.
A rescue operation was launched.
Let’s take a closer look at what happened.
The farm had previously reported that it kept around 20 dogs.
But let’s pause for a moment.
Reporting 20 dogs does NOT mean the owner was allowed to keep 20 dogs and continue selling them for human consumption.
South Korea’s complete ban is scheduled to take effect on February 7, 2027.
The farm had submitted a dog meat industry phase-out implementation plan, reporting 20 dogs at the time.
This farm was originally a large-scale operation.
Apparently, it once handled as many as 1,000 dogs.
It’s difficult to even imagine the scale of the operation.
With the nationwide ban approaching, the operation had evidently been scaled down.
When investigators entered the site,
they found that the dogs were no longer being properly cared for.
There were feces, waste, and bones believed to be from dead dogs.
And, as you might expect from a dog farm supplying the meat industry, the place was lined with raised wire cages.
What Are Raised Wire Cages?
These are cages raised above the ground, with wire mesh flooring.
They are designed to make waste disposal easier by allowing the dogs’ feces and urine to fall through the floor.
The waste falls to the ground below, leaving the operator with little more to do than clean the floor underneath.
This is why I sometimes think humans can be the cruelest creatures of all.
If I bring this up now,
some foreigners might say,
“Hey, we don’t eat dogs!”
But dog meat has historically been consumed in various Asian countries.
It’s an uncomfortable part of our history.
If we’re making an effort to move away from it now,
isn’t that what matters?
Okay?
After discovering the farm, the organization Humane World for Animals, an international animal protection group,
reported the situation to the local government and police.
After obtaining a written agreement from the farm owner to give up raising the dogs and transferring ownership of the animals, the organization proceeded with the rescue operation.
The rescued dogs are reportedly undergoing veterinary treatment and adoption procedures overseas, including quarantine procedures at Incheon International Airport.
That’s wonderful work.
Truly impressive.
They have my support.
Now, let’s look at a few more things.
How many dog farms are still operating in South Korea?
In 2024, the government received dog meat industry phase-out implementation plans from businesses across the country.
The total number of registered dog farms was 1,537.
As of May 2026, 1,265 of them had reportedly shut down.
That puts the closure rate at approximately 82%.
Looking at the full list of businesses that submitted implementation plans:
| Business Type | Registered Businesses |
|---|---|
| Dog Farms | 1,537 |
| Dog Slaughter Businesses | 221 |
| Dog Meat Distributors | 1,788 |
| Restaurants | 2,352 |
| Total | 5,898 |
Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
In other words, the dog meat industry is facing a complete shutdown under the ban scheduled to take effect in four months.
People working in these industries will have to find new ways to make a living.
Looking at these numbers, we can’t simply ignore how many people depend on this industry for their livelihoods.
Is the government helping them transition into other occupations so they don’t return to the dog meat business?
Yes, it is.
| Target Group | Available Support |
|---|---|
| Dog Farm Owners | Closure compensation, consulting for switching to other livestock, and loans |
| Slaughterhouse and Distribution Businesses | Closure support, reemployment education and training |
| Restaurants Serving Dog Meat Stew | Closure support, assistance with changing industries and starting new businesses |
| People Seeking Reemployment | Training participation allowance of up to KRW 1.1 million per month and an employment success bonus of up to KRW 1.9 million |
| People Starting New Businesses | Startup training and consulting, plus business funding of up to KRW 20 million |
With the large-scale farms disappearing—the starting point of the entire supply chain—we can finally see the last scene approaching.
As for the restaurants at the other end of the chain, I’m less worried about them.
Back in the early 2000s, South Korea’s economy had already begun to settle into a more developed phase.
As society moved away from large extended families toward nuclear families,
keeping pets as members of the household naturally became more common.
And that’s when restaurants serving dog meat stew began to decline.
As negative attitudes toward dog meat spread, business suffered.
Many restaurant owners had already switched to black goat stew a long time ago.
The large-scale farms, which represent the beginning of the supply chain, are disappearing.
And the restaurants at the end of the chain already have a well-established path toward changing their business.
Looks like there will be a lot more black goats in the future…
So, Will Dog Farms Be Completely Banned?
No, not exactly.
!?!?!?!?!??!
Yes, you heard that right. Not completely.
Breeding dogs for sale is still allowed.
It’s not as though those dogs are going to be eaten.
Right?
I mean, who eats a Chihuahua?
Seriously…
Still,
this could become a new loophole in the future.
However, breeding businesses generally connect sellers directly with buyers, and the dogs’ living conditions are clearly different from those found at many dog meat farms.
That means it may not be so easy for operators to use these businesses as a way to continue their old practices.
And even if someone manages to obtain dog meat,
restaurants will have shut down, and anyone who cooks dog meat for customers could also end up committing an offense under the ban.
So why would a restaurant owner take that risk?
People who still want to eat dog meat might have to bring their own cooking equipment
and head up into the mountains to cook it themselves.
But if they’re willing to go to that much trouble,
why not just visit another Asian country instead?
China and Vietnam, for example, still have some dog meat consumption.
If you rephrase the question as, “Will dog meat disappear from South Korea for good?”
I’d probably answer: yes, it will.
Well… now, when I meet foreigners,
will North Korea be the only thing left for them to make fun of us about?
Oh, wait…
There are still a few other things.
But seriously, what am I supposed to do about the shape of my eyes?
