Restaurants in South Korea that serve dog meat file suit against government, seeking compensation for ban
At least 14 restaurants in South Korea have filed lawsuits against the government. The restaurant owners are demanding more compensation following a dog meat ban that would affect their businesses.
The nationwide ban on canine meat will take effect in Feb 2027. This ban follows a three-year grace period.
According to The Korea Herald, the restaurants argue that the state’s compensation varies depending on whether owners will demolish the store or switch cuisines. Thus, they argue that the compensation is insufficient to cover their losses.
Owners oppose one-time sum
Under the current compensation scheme, these restaurants which serve dog meat will receive up to ₩4 million (S$3,670) in closure assistance or ₩2.5 million (S$2,300) in switching to other types of food.
The restaurant operators oppose this scheme, saying that the one-time payment is woefully insufficient as the ban forces them to abandon their decades-long practices. However, local governments have rejected any additional compensation for these business owners.
Source: The Korea Herald
This is because not only have they already provided the maximum amount allowed under government guidelines, but it is also difficult to justify any additional expenditures of taxpayer money, given that the special law banning dog meat arose from a longstanding social consensus.
Furthermore, legal experts pointed out that the dog meat industry did not always operate within the legal framework, making it difficult to apply those same laws.
As a result, on 24 July, the restaurants simultaneously filed suits in multiple districts of Daejeon.
Dog safety also a massive public concern
Animal rights groups also express concern about the condition of the dogs that dog meat farms raise.
Last year, 611 farms reportedly had around 150,000 dogs. Authorities successfully placed only 455 dogs in adoptive homes or animal protection facilities.
Many worry that the farms slaughter remaining dogs.
Also read: Owner heartbroken after internet-famous dog gets stolen, sold for S$34 & eaten in China
Owner heartbroken after internet-famous dog gets stolen, sold for S$34 & eaten in China
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Featured image adapted from The Korea Herald and Korea JoongAng.
