South Korea Gives Intensive Business Actors Buying And Selling Dog Meat Of IDR 1.13 Trillion To Roll Out Tikar

Illustration. Police secured a truck bound for Semarang-Solo containing hundreds of dogs allegedly related to the sale and purchase of animal meat, Sunday, January 7, 2024. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - South Korea (South Korea) will disburse subsidies and intensively amounting to US$75 million or around Rp1.13 trillion for dog meat business players to replace their business types which will be banned starting in early 2027.

Citing Reuters, the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) announced the support for the fund today, Thursday, September 26 local time.

South Korean Deputy Minister of Agriculture Park Beom-su said the subsidy and intensive object was for farmers, farmers, and restaurants selling dog meat so that they would immediately close or change their business.

Farmers can also get around 600,000 won or IDR 6.8 million for each dog that is handed over. The officer also tried his best to get the dog that was accommodated or adopted from the business actor.

In January 2024, the South Korean Parliament is known to pass the bill on the prohibition of selling food and dog aging which ends a controversial tradition for centuries in the country. This rule goes into effect in February 2027.

South Korea has more than 1,500 dog farms and more than 200 dog slaughterhouses. About 2,300 restaurants in the country are also still serving a processed dog meat menu.

Representative of the dog meat industry, Ju Yeong-bong, said the government subsidies were insufficient. He also promised to fight for better support.

"This is our livelihood and if the government wants us to leave it, a more reasonable plan of support should follow suit," said Ju.

Meanwhile, a high-ranking animal rights group organization Humane Society International in South Korea, Lee Sang-kyung, said he fully supports the latest regulations regarding the ban on buying and selling dog meat in his country. He considers this an important milestone in the constitution governing animal rights.

However, Lee Sang highlighted the authority regarding dogs handed over to the South Korean government. He encouraged better management of animal welfare, including proper food for animals in state shelters.

"It is impossible for an animal shelter to accommodate large numbers of dogs," said Lee Sang.