South Korea sets a compensation plan for dog meat farmers before the 2027 ban

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea introduced plans Thursday to compensate famers and others within the nation’s dwindling canine meat trade earlier than a proper ban goes into impact in 2027, a transfer that’s drawing opposition from each farmers and a few animal rights activists.

South Korea’s parliament handed a landmark invoice in January that may ban slaughtering, breeding or promoting canine meat for human consumption after a three-year grace interval. It will likely be punishable by 2-3 years in jail.

The Agriculture Ministry stated that farmers would obtain compensation ranging from 225,000 received ($170), and rising as much as 600,000 received ($450) per canine if they comply with shut down their companies early.

An affiliation of farmers rejected the provide, saying in an announcement that they can not relinquish their canines for such low costs. Farmers earlier referred to as for two million received ($1,505) per canine. They’ve stated the ban infringes on their proper to decide on their very own jobs and can worsen their financial difficulties.

The affiliation stated that farmers will hold combating even when they find yourself being jailed. Earlier this week, they referred to as for the regulation to be amended to increase the grace interval and add applicable compensation plans.

Sangkyung Lee, a marketing campaign supervisor on the Korean workplace of the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society Worldwide, referred to as the South Korean announcement “an necessary milestone on this historic ban that may see the ban by way of to completion and finish our nation’s canine meat period for good.”

However Lee stated his workplace is “upset” on the South Korean plan as a result of it could pay farmers based mostly on the variety of canines they’ve, “probably rising canine breeding to get extra money from the scheme and extra puppies being born into struggling.”

The Korean Animal Welfare Affiliation, a Seoul-based animal rights group, stated that native governments should strictly monitor farms to forestall them from rising their variety of canines by way of breeding. It praised the federal government for making an attempt to take “affordable” steps to section out the trade however criticized farmers for looking for extreme compensation.

Canine meat consumption is a centuries-old follow on the Korean Peninsula. It’s additionally eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and a few African nations. However South Korea’s canine meat trade has drawn extra consideration due to the nation’s repute as a cultural and financial powerhouse. It’s additionally the one nation with industrial-scale canine farms.

South Korea’s anti-dog meat marketing campaign obtained a giant increase from the nation’s first girl, Kim Keon Hee, who repeatedly expressed her help for a prohibition. She was subjected to withering criticism and crude insults throughout demonstrations by farmers.

Surveys have discovered that that round one in three South Koreans opposes the ban, although most individuals now don’t eat canine meat.

Vice Agriculture Minster Park Beomsu informed reporters that authorities research discovered that about 466,000 canines are at present being raised for meals throughout South Korea. He stated officers will attempt to persuade farmers to voluntarily section out canine breeding forward of the ban.

After the ban comes into drive, Park stated, the federal government plans to facilitate adoptions for the remaining canines or transfer them to care amenities relatively than euthanize them.

The agriculture ministry stated butchers may also be compensated, whereas native authorities shall be accountable for dismantling canine farms and slaughterhouses. Former farmers and butchers may also get low-interests loans in the event that they pivot to different agricultural companies.

The ministry stated authorities may also provide monetary help to merchants and restaurant homeowners to close down their companies and discover new jobs.