South Korea’s dog meat restaurants are experiencing their last season of legal operation. A nationwide ban on the breeding, slaughter, and sale of dogs for meat will take full effect in February 2027.

Changing Attitudes

The ban caps a long decline in dog meat consumption as rising pet ownership and changing attitudes toward animal welfare transform public opinion. In a survey, more than 90% of respondents said they had no intention of eating dog meat in the future, while more than 80% supported a ban.

At the Moran Market in Seongnam, once the country’s best-known hub for dog meat, lunchtime crowds filled alleyways lined with restaurants. Yet many businesses have shifted to black goat stew and other alternatives, while the few customers still ordering dog meat stew were overwhelmingly elderly.

Uncertain Future

For restaurant owner Lee Kang-chun, a former merchants’ association chairman who has spent 37 years in the trade, the change evokes mixed emotions. Lee said he believed it was right to end dog meat consumption considering South Korea’s global image and shifting social attitudes.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.