By Asiye Latife Yilmaz
ISTANBUL (AA) - About 40% of dog farms in South Korea have shut down since the country passed a law banning dog meat consumption last year, according to the Agriculture Ministry on Monday.
It is expected that 60% of dog farms in South Korea will close by the end of 2025, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.
The legislation bans the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for meat, while also offering subsidies to support those transitioning out of the dog meat industry.
Law enforcement will begin in 2027, and violators could face a maximum of two years of prison sentence or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,768).
The ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party had jointly pushed for the ban, as dog meat is said to have fallen out of favor with diners over the past few decades.