South Korea’s parliament passed a bill Tuesday banning the breeding and slaughter of dogs for consumption, ending the traditional yet controversial practice of eating dog meat after years of nationwide debate.
The bill received rare bipartisan support across South Korea’s divided political landscape, highlighting how attitudes toward eating dog have transformed over the past few decades during the country’s rapid industrialization.
The law will ban the distribution and sale of food products made or processed with dog ingredients, according to the corresponding committee of the National Assembly.
However, customers who consume dog meat or related products will not be subject to punishment – meaning the law would largely target those working in the industry such as dog farmers or sellers.
It’s just optics. Dog meat was only eaten by the absolute poorest in South Korea, the fascist Yoon administration just wanted an easy win. Morally and economically, there’s no benefit to banning dog meat over beef or pork, but because dogs are also pets it makes Yoon look better and can distract from him targeting minorities, disabled people, women, and ruining the economy.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather no dogs get eaten, but this was just a cheap shot to make a fascist look better.
Is it a good thing? Ultimately, yes, but it’s helpful to analyze the context. President Yoon is a fascist with declining popularity and banned something that was already pretty much nonexistent except in the absolute poorest areas.
Easy win? The article says it’s been in controversy to get something like this passed for years.
Not because there are a bunch of dog-eating supporters, it was almost entirely gone beforehand, only the poorest people were still eating dog. This wasn’t some grand win for a fascist that happens to love dogs, but a move for political capital. There aren’t cultural or traditional reasons to eat dog meat in SK.
It’s like banning consumption of squirrel in America. It wasn’t really happening and it doesn’t solve much.
I got news for you, buddy. I’m from the Midwest. I know several people who hunt and eat squirrel. Not because they’re broke, either.
They’re in it for the thrill.
Almost year round hunting for them. Only two or three months a year it isn’t squirrel season. Pick a nice day for a stroll in the woods with a light little 22 rifle and collect some dinner to grill while having a few beers.