Agriculture Minister nominee Song Mi-ryung on Monday expressed her strong support for the proposed bill at the parliament aiming to eventually ban the consumption of dog meat in the country.
When asked about her stance on the proposed law during her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Song responded, “Certainly.”
Song, however, said that it should not be mandatory for the government to compensate those engaged in the industry.
“Although I am committed to providing as much reasonable support as possible, it is too much to make such compensations mandatory,” Song said.
The bill centers on banning raising and slaughtering dogs for consumption. South Korea plans to enforce the measure starting in 2027 following a three-year grace period.
According to government statistics, there are around 1,150 dog farms, 34 butchering businesses, 219 distributors, and approximately 1,600 restaurants that sell food made with dog meat.
Source: Yonhap News Agency