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| Banners in front of Moran Market |
South Korea Nears End of Legal Dog Meat Trade
SEOUL — August 14, 2026
South Korea is approaching the end of its long-running dog meat trade, with the final summer season taking place before a nationwide ban is fully enforced in February 2027. The change reflects a major shift in public attitudes as pet ownership and concern for animal welfare have grown.
At Moran Market in Seongnam, south of Seoul, the final hot days of summer brought some of the last customers seeking bosintang, a traditional dog meat stew. But the market has changed sharply, with many restaurants replacing dog meat with black goat stew and other dishes.
The final boknal, or one of the traditional hottest days of summer, fell on Friday. These three summer days were once an important period for dog meat restaurants, where customers ate dishes they believed could help maintain strength during hot weather.
Moran Market was once one of South Korea's best-known centres for dog meat. Today, however, only a small number of restaurants continue to offer it, and their remaining customers are mostly older people.
Kim Yong-book, head of the Moran Market Merchants' Association, said the area had changed dramatically during his more than four decades there. Many businesses have moved away from dog meat, leaving what he described as an ageing customer base.
The decline began well before the new law. South Korean attitudes toward dogs have changed as more households have adopted them as pets and concerns about animal welfare have become more widespread.
A survey conducted shortly before parliament passed the ban in 2024 found that more than 90% of 2,000 respondents had no plans to eat dog meat in the future. More than 80% supported a ban, while almost 95% said they had not eaten dog meat during the previous year.
The government said more than 5,600 businesses were affected by the legislation. Officials have also reported that most dog farms had already closed as the February 2027 enforcement date approaches.
The campaign to end the trade gained greater political momentum during the administration of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. His wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, was a prominent supporter of animal welfare and publicly backed efforts to prohibit dog meat.
South Korea's parliament approved legislation in January 2024 prohibiting the breeding, slaughter, distribution and sale of dogs for human consumption. The law allowed businesses three years to close or change their operations before the ban becomes fully enforceable.
From February 2027, violations can result in prison sentences and fines. The government has also promised financial and other assistance to farmers, distributors and restaurant owners affected by the transition.
For some businesses, however, replacing dog meat has proved difficult. Lee Kang-chun, a restaurant owner who has worked in the trade for 37 years, now serves both dog meat and black goat stew.
Lee said he understood the reasons for ending the trade and believed the change reflected South Korea's changing society and international image. But he said he felt particularly sad watching elderly customers travel long distances to find a meal they have eaten for decades.
Many of those customers are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. Lee said he continues serving dog meat despite high supply costs and limited profits because of his long-standing customers.
Black goat stew has become one of the main alternatives at Moran Market, with restaurants presenting it as another traditional dish associated with health and strength. Restaurant owners say, however, that the new business has not fully replaced the income once generated by dog meat.
Some customers remain strongly attached to the dish. Yoo Jin-sam, 69, said he had eaten dog meat since his early twenties and believed many people continued to seek it because they considered it beneficial to their health.
Yoo said he accepted the government's decision but would miss being able to eat the dish. Another customer, 71-year-old Kim Jin-suk, was more accepting of the change, saying he could simply choose another type of food.
The transition marks the closing of a controversial chapter in South Korean food culture. As the February 2027 deadline approaches, the remaining businesses and customers are adjusting to a future in which dog meat will no longer be legally produced or sold for human consumption.
