South Korea Enters Its Last Legal Dog Meat Season Before the 2027 Ban
South Korea is going through the final summer in which dog meat can legally be sold before a nationwide ban takes effect on Feb. 7, 2027. Aug. 14 was Malbok, the third and final of the traditional three boknal days associated with the hottest part of summer. Traditionally, some South Koreans ate bosintang, the soup […]
South Korea is in its final summer season before a nationwide ban on dog meat sales takes effect on February 7, 2027. The traditional Chinese medicine belief that dog meat in the soup bositang boosts virility fuels consumption, particularly during the three-day hot weather festival known as boknal. Seongnam's Moran Market, once a major hub for dog meat sales, still allows restaurants to serve the dish, primarily to older customers.
Most dog meat vendors have switched to black goat stew or other meats to adapt to changing consumer preferences. Over 80% of registered dog farms have closed by May 2026, leaving only 272 active farms. Animal welfare groups have rescued about 2,800 dogs since 2015, but the majority are sent abroad for adoption. Public support for the ban is strong, with over 90% of surveyed people stating they wouldn't eat dog meat again.
The ban, passed in January 2024, will fully prohibit the breeding, slaughtering, distribution, and sale of dogs for human consumption starting February 7, 2027.
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