When South Korea’s National Assembly voted to ban the breeding, slaughter and sale of dogs for human consumption in January 2024, the decision was widely celebrated as a landmark victory for animal welfare. By February 2027, the dog meat industry will become illegal nationwide.
Yet one difficult question remains: what happens to the dogs?
The answer is more complicated than many people realise.
How Many Dogs Are Affected?
The South Korean government estimated that there were 1,537 registered dog farms when the ban process began. As of May 2026, around 82% had already closed, leaving roughly 18% still operating as the country moves towards the 2027 deadline.
The number of dogs involved is substantial. Government plans published in 2024 referred to the need to relocate nearly half a million dogs from the industry. It has been reported that authorities were preparing adoption and sheltering programmes for approximately 500,000 dogs as farms closed.
While campaign groups often cite higher historic figures, the government’s relocation estimate of around half a million dogs provides the clearest indication of the scale of the challenge.
What Safeguards Are In Place?
The legislation itself focuses on ending the industry rather than creating a comprehensive rescue programme for the dogs. However, several measures have been introduced.
Financial Support for Farmers
The South Korean government has allocated funding to help businesses leave the trade. Compensation payments are available for farmers who surrender dogs and close their operations before the deadline. Support packages also include assistance for transitioning to alternative livelihoods.
Shelter and Adoption Programmes
Authorities have pledged to support rehoming efforts and expand shelter capacity. Government statements have repeatedly indicated that euthanasia is not intended to be the primary solution and that adoption should play a central role in managing the transition.
Farm Closure Assistance
Animal welfare organisations have been working directly with farmers to close facilities and remove dogs. Humane World for Animals alone reports rescuing nearly 2,800 dogs through its farm transition programme while helping farmers move into alternative businesses.
Why Are Welfare Organisations Concerned?
Despite widespread support for the ban, many welfare groups argue that planning for the dogs themselves has lagged behind planning for the industry’s closure.
The central concern is capacity.
Even with most farms already closed, there are still tens of thousands of dogs requiring homes, sanctuary spaces or long term care. Many were bred specifically for the meat trade and may have spent their entire lives in barren wire cages. Some have limited socialisation and may require extensive rehabilitation before they are ready for family homes.
There are also practical challenges. Certain breeds commonly found on dog meat farms, including Tosa type dogs and large mixed breeds, can be more difficult to place than smaller companion dogs. Welfare organisations fear that shelters could become overwhelmed if sufficient resources are not available.
A Different Challenge Than Ending the Trade
Closing farms can be achieved through legislation, compensation and enforcement. Finding suitable futures for hundreds of thousands of dogs is a far more complex undertaking involving rescue organisations, shelters, adopters, veterinarians, behaviourists and governments.
South Korea has already demonstrated that major cultural change is possible. Public support for dog meat has declined sharply over the past decade, and the industry is now approaching its final years.
The next challenge will be ensuring that the dogs left behind by that change are not forgotten.
As February 2027 approaches, the success of South Korea’s dog meat ban may ultimately be judged not only by the farms that close, but by the futures secured for the dogs that remain.