SEOUL, South Korea (June 30, 2023) — In Defense of Animals applauds the introduction of legislation in South Korea’s National Assembly this week that would ban the dog meat trade.

An estimated 1 million dogs are still raised and slaughtered annually in the country, with most being killed during Boknal days in July and August. 

The bipartisan Special Act, which was introduced on June 28 by Democratic Party Assembly Member Han Jeoung-ae with 11 co-sponsors, would ultimately ban the breeding, slaughter and consumption of dogs for their meat and provide funding and opportunities for farmers to transition into other livelihoods.

“This is an exciting sign the momentum to ban this horrifying trade in South Korea is growing and the end is potentially in sight,” said Fleur Dawes, Director of Communications and International Partnerships for In Defense of Animals. “We stand with citizens and politicians who’ve been working hard to protect dogs from a heartbreaking fate in the dog meat trade and encourage the National Assembly to push this long-overdue bill through.”

Since partnering in 2017, In Defense of Animals and Jindo Love Rescue have saved more than 700 dogs from South Korea’s dog meat trade and flown them to forever homes in North America, and will continue to support rescue efforts until the dog meat trade is ended.

This year, 18,840 In Defense of Animals supporters have written to President Yoon Suk Yeol urging him to ban the dog meat trade.

Members of the public are urged to write a message supporting South Korea’s proposed dog meat ban.

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Images and videos of dog meat survivors are available upon request. 

Contact: Fleur Dawes, media@idausa.org, 415-879-6879

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in Marin, California, with over 250,000 supporters and a 40-year history of defending animals, their advocates, and the environment, through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, California, and rural Mississippi. In partnership with Jindo Love Rescue, In Defense of Animals has rescued hundreds of dogs from South Korea’s dog meat trade and found them loving forever homes in North America. www.idausa.org/dogmeat

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