The once bustling streets of dog meat restaurants in central Seoul turned deserted, Wednesday, as consuming the meat fell out of favor among Koreans. This void was accentuated as Korea officially banned this age-old practice on Tuesday.
South Korea Dog Meat Ban: When Choi Tae-yeon opened her restaurant 20 years ago, dog meat was a good business in South Korea. Now, she says she might have to close up shop, with a new ban on the former delicacy.
South Korea's parliament passed a bill to do away with the consumption of dog meat through a rare unanimous vote on the legislation that President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged to enact as law.
The National Assembly passed the bill by a 208-0 vote. It will come into effect after a three-year grace period and after it receives final approval from President Yoon Suk Yeol. Breeding, selling and slaughtering dogs for their meat will be punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($23,000) in fines.