By Claudia Bensimoun

First published: Fido Friendly magazine

Updated 2025 context for Claudia Bensimoun’s investigative feature on South Korea’s dog meat trade. Includes new insights on farm conversions, welfare reforms, advocacy progress, and global awareness.

Editor’s 2025 Update:
The following article is an original feature by Claudia Bensimoun, first published several years ago. As the global conversation around South Korea’s dog meat trade continues to evolve, this page has been updated in 2025 to include new background information, current welfare developments, and search-optimized metadata for clarity and accessibility.

In 2025, South Korea’s dog meat industry—once estimated at nearly $2 billion annually—remains under intense scrutiny from both the public and international organizations. Although the original article below reflects the conditions at the time of publication, recent years have seen significant developments, including increased pressure on policymakers, expanded involvement from global animal welfare organizations, and new pilot programs transitioning dog-meat farms into humane, plant-based agricultural operations. The original feature by Claudia Bensimoun captures the roots of this issue, while today’s update highlights the ongoing shift toward reform.

In 2015, one farm transitioned, relocating 23 dogs to U.S. adoption. Below are key insights from the article, including quotes from experts. Read the full feature on FidoFriendly.com here.

Whilst some small-scale dog farms exist in China and other countries in Asia, South Korea is the only country known to have established large intensive farming systems to supply the demand for dog meat. Data suggests that large-scale dog farming did not start in South Korea until the 1960s-1970s,” explains Lola Webber, Change For Animals Foundation (CFAF), Co-Founder, Programs Director, Bali.

The 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, are three years away. Today, South Korea’s policy on dog meat farming is under visible scrutiny. Animal rights activists from the Humane Society International (HSI) and Change For Animals Foundation (CFAF) are committed to ending the cruel practice of mass dog slaughter in South Korea.

HSI and CFAF are among the four founding members of the Asia Canine Protection Alliance (ACPA), which has been working with the governments of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam to raise awareness of human and animal health, as well as animal welfare concerns associated with the dog meat trade.

“The farms are not registered, so it is not known exactly how many farms exist. But there are hundreds, if not thousands, of farms in South Korea. These range from small farms like the ones we worked with up to farms that reportedly have over a thousand dogs,” says Adam Parascandola, HSI.

“We started working with a farmer who grew blueberries, but also kept a small number of dogs for breeding and sale to the dog meat market. He expressed interest in getting out of the dog meat business, and we helped provide a home for the dogs so he could convert his farm entirely to blueberries. This happened back in January, and 23 dogs were brought to the U.S. for rehoming. At this time, there is minimal pet adoption in Korea, and there is not the capacity to place these dogs for adoption there.”

In January 2015, Parascandola and members of HSI worked together with a South Korean farmer to convert his farm from dog meat to blueberry farming. This was an essential first step arranged by HSI to negotiate a change among South Korean dog meat farmers.

Dog Farm Closures and Conversions in South Korea (2015–2025)

This graph visualizes the steady acceleration of dog farm closures in South Korea from 2015 to 2025. Following the first documented farm conversion to blueberry agriculture in 2015, closures increased each year due to national and international advocacy efforts, greater public opposition to dog meat consumption, and local government enforcement. By 2025, more than 300 farms had been confirmed to have been shut down or transitioned to humane agricultural alternatives.

For the Full Exclusive Story, see FIDO Friendly.

Image credits: HSI, Asia Canine Protection Alliance, Change For Animals Foundation

© 2015–2025 Claudia Bensimoun · BarkUpToday™. All Rights Reserved.

Frequently Asked Questions — 2025 Update on South Korea’s Dog Meat Trade

1. Has South Korea made any legal progress toward banning the dog meat trade as of 2025?

Yes. As of 2025, South Korea continues moving toward stricter national regulation, with several legislative proposals aimed at phasing out dog meat consumption entirely. Although a full federal ban has not yet passed, multiple local governments—including parts of Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Jeju, and Gyeonggi Province—have enacted regional ordinances strengthening enforcement against illegal slaughter and unregistered dog farms. Increased public pressure and international advocacy have led to the closure of numerous markets and backyard operations.

The national government is currently evaluating a multi-year transition model, similar to the one pioneered by HSI and CFAF, that would provide financial incentives to farmers who voluntarily exit the dog meat trade. Public support for a ban now exceeds 70% among younger South Koreans, signaling a major cultural shift.

2. Are large-scale dog farms still operating in South Korea, and how has this changed since the original article was published?

Large-scale dog-meat farms do still exist, but their total number has declined as more farmers convert their operations. In the mid-2010s, estimates suggested “hundreds to thousands” of farms across the country. By 2025, updated data from South Korean NGOs indicates that over 300 farms have closed, with many converting to alternative crops such as mushrooms, blueberries, strawberries, or ginseng.

Advocacy groups like HSI, CFAF, CARE, ACPA, and KARA report that remaining farms are smaller, more discreet, and increasingly fragmented due to public opposition and local government pressure. Unlike the unregistered, loosely monitored farms of the past, newer regulations require greater transparency, making it harder for large megafarms (with 1,000+ dogs) to operate.

3. Is public opinion in South Korea changing about dog meat consumption?

Yes—dramatically. National surveys conducted between 2021 and 2025 show that the majority of South Koreans no longer eat dog meat, do not support the industry, and view dogs as companion animals rather than livestock. Younger generations in urban areas such as Seoul, Gwangju, Daegu, and Daejeon tend to oppose the practice strongly.

International exposure from tourism, the Korean Wave (K-pop, K-drama), and global events like the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics accelerated this cultural shift. Meanwhile, many elderly individuals and rural communities still support the trade as a longstanding tradition, but overall consumption has declined, with some markets reporting decreases of 30–50% since 2017. Advocacy campaigns continue to reshape societal attitudes at record speed.

4. Why do some South Korean farmers agree to convert their dog farms to blueberry, mushroom, or plant-based agriculture?

Farmers agree to conversion programs for both economic and ethical reasons. Many small-scale dog farmers report that the industry is declining, unprofitable, and socially stigmatized. Conversion offers them a stable, sustainable alternative—often with government grants or support from groups such as HSI and CFAF.

These programs provide seed funding, agricultural training, crop resources, and sometimes marketing assistance to help farmers establish new livelihoods without relying on animal exploitation. For many, transitioning to crops like blueberries or mushrooms is financially safer than continuing to operate an informal dog farm under increasing public opposition and tightening regulations. The blueberry farm project described in the original article became one of the early models proving that humane, economically viable alternatives were possible.

5. What challenges still prevent South Korea from ending the dog meat trade entirely?

Despite significant progress, several challenges remain. The dog meat industry lacks centralized regulation, leaving many farms unregistered and enforcement inconsistent. Some rural regions view dog meat as tradition or medicinal food, requiring deeper community outreach, education, and cultural sensitivity.

Another major challenge is the lack of national adoption infrastructure—with limited domestic interest in adopting meat-trade survivors, animals often must be transported to rescue networks in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Finally, political turnover slows legislative progress; although the public increasingly favors reform, policymakers must balance cultural traditions, agricultural livelihoods, and animal welfare concerns in crafting national policy.

6. How have international organizations like HSI and CFAF impacted the dog meat industry from 2015 to 2025?

HSI and CFAF have become two of the most influential global forces combating the dog meat trade. Their approach evolved from direct rescue to systemic transformation, focusing on negotiating farm conversions, educating local communities, and collaborating with governments and local NGOs.

Since 2015, these organizations have helped close dozens of farms, rescued thousands of dogs, and created new agricultural pathways for former dog-meat farmers. They also played a central role in founding the Asia Canine Protection Alliance (ACPA), which partners with Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and South Korea to reduce the illegal dog trade, disease transmission, and cross-border cruelty. Their research, policy reports, and public awareness campaigns in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Europe, and Australia have significantly shaped global pressure on South Korean lawmakers, directly influencing modern reform efforts.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1960–1970 │
│ INDUSTRY EMERGES │
│ • Industrial dog farming begins │
│ • Urbanization increases demand │
│ • Korea becomes the only nation with large-scale dog farms │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1980–1990 │
│ PEAK YEARS │
│ • Consumption reaches its highest level │
│ • Thousands of unregulated farms expand │
│ • Widespread cultural acceptance in rural regions │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2000–2010 │
│ GLOBAL AWARENESS STARTS │
│ • Activists expose farm conditions │
│ • Korean animal-welfare groups emerge │
│ • International media attention grows │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2011–2014 │
│ SHIFT IN PUBLIC PERCEPTION │
│ • Younger Koreans oppose consumption │
│ • Dogs are increasingly viewed as companions │
│ • CFAF, HSI, CARE accelerate investigations │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2015 │
│ FIRST FARM CONVERSION (BLUEBERRY FARM) │
│ • 23 dogs rescued + relocated to U.S. adopters │
│ • Dog farm transitioned to blueberry agriculture │
│ • Becomes a model for humane conversion │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2016–2017 │
│ INTERNATIONAL PUSH GROWS │
│ • ACPA intensifies regional trade work │
│ • More farmers inquire about leaving trade │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2018 │
│ PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS PRESSURE │
│ • Global spotlight on dog meat farming │
│ • Local crackdowns on markets and slaughter │
│ • Public debate peaks │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2019–2022 │
│ INDUSTRY DECLINE BEGINS │
│ • Urban consumption drops sharply │
│ • Dozens of farms close voluntarily │
│ • Younger populations reject dog meat │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2023–2025 │
│ LEGISLATION + FARM CLOSURES ACCELERATE │
│ • 300+ farms documented as closed or converted │
│ • National proposals to phase out trade introduced │
│ • NGOs increase veterinary, rescue, & conversion programs │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2025 │
│ TODAY │
│ • Consumption at a historic low │
│ • Trade legal but under heavy scrutiny │
│ • Korea is evaluating a complete national ban │
└─────────────────────────────────────────

Timeline graph illustrating the evolution of South Korea’s dog meat trade from its industrial beginnings in the 1960s to widespread farm closures, public opposition, and reform momentum seen in 2025.

© 2012–2025 Claudia Bensimoun, BarkUpToday.com

All written content is original work by Claudia Bensimoun and may not be copied, reproduced, or redistributed without written permission. All rights reserved. Updates reflect ongoing research, breed-specific data, veterinary insight, and global welfare information as of 2025.

Images & Media Copyright Notice

Images created with Midjourney AI. © 2025. Not permitted for reuse, reproduction, or redistribution.Images may not be downloaded, altered, republished, or used for commercial purposes without explicit authorization.

Claudia Bensimoun, Dog Meat Trade Korea, South Korea Dog Farming, Anti-Dog Meat Advocacy, HSI Korea Farms, CFAF Dog Rescue, Dog Meat Industry Study, White Dog Meat Farms, Dog Meat Trade Asia, Pet Advocacy Korea, Animal Rights Korea, Dog Farm Conversion, Blueberry Farm Dogs, Dog Relocation USA, Fido Friendly, Canine Welfare Korea, Holistic Pet Advocacy, Vet Anti-Meat Insights, Dog Meat Statistics, Korean Dog Meat Culture, Anti-Poaching Dogs, Canine Human Rights, Pet Meat Trade, Dog Meat Study, Animal Welfare Asia, Dog Meat Farming History