Elderly diners in South Korea gathered last Friday to eat dog meat before a nationwide ban on the practice takes effect [1], [3].
The gatherings mark a significant cultural shift in the country, as a newly passed law will soon criminalize the production and sale of dog meat [3].
On Friday, Aug. 14, diners congregated in a market in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province [1], [2]. The area is recognized as a hub for the dog-meat trade. The date coincided with the third boknal of the summer [1], which is traditionally one of the hottest days of the year.
Restaurant owner Lee Kang-chun prepared dishes for customers who viewed the meal as a final opportunity to participate in a long-standing tradition [1], [2]. For many of the elderly patrons, the practice is tied to seasonal customs used to combat the summer heat.
While the tradition persists among some demographics, the legal landscape is changing. The government will fully enforce the nationwide ban in February 2027 [3]. This legislation prohibits both the sale and the production of the meat across the country [3].
The transition period allows current businesses to wind down operations before the deadline. Until then, the remaining legal seasons serve as a farewell to a practice that has faced increasing opposition from animal rights advocates, and younger generations.
“Diners gathered to enjoy dog-meat dishes, knowing it is the last legal season.”
The impending ban reflects a broader societal evolution in South Korea, where the status of dogs has shifted from livestock to companion animals. This legal transition signals the end of a traditional dietary practice in favor of modern animal welfare standards, effectively erasing the legal dog-meat trade from the country's commercial landscape by early 2027.
