South Korean farmers protest against ban on dog meat.

Dozens of farmers drove trucks loaded with dogs to the South Korean presidential office to protest and were stopped by police.

Police prevent a protest in front of the South Korean presidential office in Seoul on November 30, 2023. Photo: Reuters

President Yoon Suk Yeol's People Power Party (PPP) has introduced a bill banning the breeding and sale of dogs for consumption, while also providing financial compensation to those in the industry forced to close their businesses during a three-year extension period.

Members of the PPP party said it was time to end the controversy surrounding dog meat consumption and added that there was broad support from the public and opposition parties.

More than 6 million South Korean households currently own dogs as pets in this country of approximately 51 million people. President Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee own six dogs, including a rescue dog.

A Gallup Korea poll last year showed that nearly two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog meat in the past year, down from 27% in 2015.

Ju Yeong-bong, who led Thursday's protest, said politicians have no right to shut down an industry or decide what people choose to eat.

He said, "We cannot agree with the view that it is barbaric, because all countries with a tradition of dog farming have eaten dog meat at some point, and there are still countries that do so."

Ju stated that farmers had been completely excluded from discussions about the bill and that the proposed financial compensation was entirely inadequate as it would cause them to lose their livelihoods.

The protest organizers said that three protesters, including Ju, had been arrested by the police.

Mai Vân (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nong-dan-han-quoc-bieu-tinh-phan-doi-lenh-cam-thit-cho-post274697.html