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Application No.: 1AA-2008-0001522
Application Date: 2020-08-01
Jeollanam-do, South Korea, Shut down the illegal dog meat farms, slaughterhouses and markets.
대한민국 전라남도는 불법 개농장, 도축장, 시장, 보신탕집을 폐쇄하라!!!

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Civil Petition Results
organization in charge THE PROVINCE OF JEOLLANAM-DO 전라남도
staff in charge 오재철
contact 061-286-6532
processing date 2020-08-25
result (Korean)
Thank you for you interest in Jeollanamdo. We would like to express our position on the illegal dog meat farms, slaughterhouses and markets.

There has been a long-standing debate on dog meat in Korea. Since the population of raising companion animals passed the 10-million line, dogs are no longer considered property but treated as members of the family with whom they live. At the same time, a negative perception of the dog meat industry is growing.

The dog meat trade has long been common in Korea, therefore, it is not easy to promptly prohibit the industry by law. This is a task of Korea that would be solved step by step, backed by pan-governmental policies and social consensus.

1. Dog Meat Farms

We will strengthen inspections on suppliers and transporters of food waste to dog meat farms, ensuring that they must be properly licensed for food waste recycling collection service and use food waste to feed dogs only after an authorized treatment process. In addition, we will control dog meat farms to feed dog food produced from licensed dog food manufacturing facilities.

Regarding environmental damage caused by the excrement produced at dog meat farms, we will solve the problem by supporting livestock manure management facilities to properly treat dog excrement. Also, we will try to prevent animal abuse by closely monitoring the farms whether they properly breed and manage dogs.
2. Dog Slaughterhouses and Dog Meat Trade

Dogs are not categorized as livestock by the Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act in Korea, therefore, slaughtering dogs for food is not subject to regulations on slaughtering, meat processing, and delivering by the Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act. However, under the Animal Protection Act, we will strengthen inspections whether dog meat professionals observe relavent regulations on transport and slaughtering processing of animals.

Dog meat is not classified as food by the ‘Food Standards’ by the Ministry of Food and Drugs. Since dog meat consumption is Korea’s unique food culture, it requires social consensus to ban dog meat.

Restaurants serving dog meat must observe the Food Sanitation Act which mandates processing of meat be done in a hygienic manner. If any breaches are found, we impose an administrative disposition and a penalty. Each local government also conducts regular sanitary inspections of businesses serving dog meat.

Jeollanamdo is now promoting the 5 Year Plan on Companion Animal Protection and Welfare which was established in 2017.

To create a sustainable society in which humans and companion animals coexist, we are pursuing active programs that protect animals, improve animal welfare, and prevent animal abandonment.

In particular, in order for animal protection and welfare, cities and counties in the Province operate animal shelters, which accept more than 5,000 abandoned or lost animals each year and provide necessary measures such as health check, vaccination, first aid, surgery and grooming. It also promotes shelter animals for adoption, realizing the animal protection and welfare beyond mere abandoned animal management.

On top of that, we are trying to create an environment where humans and animals live together including companion animal support centers, companion animal playgrounds, abandoned or lost animal shelters, stray cat NTR.

We will continue to do our best to actualize animal protection and welfare. Thank you again for your kind interest in Jeollanamdo.

Sincerely yours,

Kim Yung-rok
Governor of Jeollanamdo Province
Republic of Korea