President Moon Jae-in on Sept. 27 proposed consideration of a ban on eating dog meat to relevant government offices.
Cheong Wa Dae Spokesperson Park Kyung-mee told a briefing that the president made the suggestion after receiving a briefing from Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on the government’s efforts to improve the system of caring for abandoned animals in a weekly policy consultation at the presidential office.
The prime minister said the administration plans to increase the rate of pet registration, encourage the neutering of wild animals, strengthen inspection, management and supervision of licensed animal shelters, adopt a reporting system for privately owned shelters and stabilize the management system for animal protection.
The government on Sept. 30 will announce measures to improve management of abandoned pets at a meeting on the inspection and coordination of state affairs.
Along with his dogs Tory, Maru and Gomi, President Moon also raises cats at his official residence. In 2017, he adopted Tory, then a stray dog, and said humans and animals alike are entitled to be free from prejudice and discrimination.
The black mixed breed, which was raised to be eaten, was rescued just before being slaughtered, but its black fur prevented the dog’s adoption.
The idea of prohibiting the consumption of dog meat is something presidential hopefuls of any party are paying close attention to.
Gyeonggi-do Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, expressed on social media his support for the president’s suggested ban as the “right measure” that he greatly welcomes.
The governor blasted the act of eating dog meat as “social violence.”
Former party chairman and Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has pledged to ban dog meat and the related industry.
Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae also backed the move with a Facebook post saying, “How nice and fortunate. Humans and animals are companions and pets in a society of nuclear families and a rapidly aging society.”
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has social media accounts full of visual content showing him and his pets.
Fellow PPP member Rep. Hong Joon-pyo has also pledged to insert provisions on animal protection in the Constitution.
Source: Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea