Farmers fight ban on dog meat

Dozens of South Korean dog farmers scuffled with police during a rally near the presidential office on Thursday to protest a push by authorities to outlaw dog meat consumption.

Earlier this month, government and ruling party officials agreed to introduce legislation by the year’s end that would ban the centuries-old practise. Individ- ual lawmakers have submitted similar anti-dog meat bills in the past, but this would be the first time for the government to back such legislation.

About 200 farmers, restaurant owners and others involved in the dog meat industry gathered in Thurs- day’s rally. They chanted slogans, sang, raised their fists and took turns making speeches criticizing the govern- ment’s move. One protester said he would kill himself if the government and governing party move ahead with the legislation.

“We’ll fight. We’ll fight,” the protesters shouted. Some farmers brought dogs in cages on their trucks but were prevented from taking them to the protest site. A shoving match between some protesters and police occurred, with some farmers rushing to a street when a truck, apparently carrying dogs, approached. Police detained three protesters, farmers said. Dog meat consumption is neither explicitly banned nor legalized in South Korea. But there have been calls to prohibit it over worries about South Korea’s in- ternational image and a growing public awareness of animal rights. World celebrities including American actress Kim Basinger and French actress Brigitte Bar- dot have called for a ban.

The bill pushed by the government and governing party would phase out the dog meat industry by 2027. It would provide financial support to farmers for dis- mantling their facilities and opening new businesses and offer vocational training and other benefits.

The anti-dog meat campaign in South Korea recently gathered new momentum as first lady Kim Keon Hee, a pet lover, repeatedly voiced her support for a ban. During Thursday’s rally, protesters made crude insults of Kim.

Farmers are calling for a longer grace period and direct financial compensation for giving up their dogs. They also say their businesses will naturally disappear when older people, their main customers, die.

About 700,000 to 1 million dogs are slaughtered for consumption each year, a decline from several million 10 to 20 years ago, according to the association. Some activists say the farmers’ estimates are inflated to show the industry is too big to destroy.