SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea announced plans Thursday to compensate farmers and others in the country's dwindling dog meat industry before a formal ban goes into effect in 2027, a move that is drawing opposition from both farmers and some animal rights activists.
South Korea’s parliament passed a landmark bill in January that will ban slaughtering, breeding or selling dog meat for human consumption after a three-year grace period. It will be punishable by 2-3 years in prison.
The Agriculture Ministry said that farmers would receive compensation starting from 225,000 won ($170), and rising up to 600,000 won ($450) per dog if they agree to shut down their businesses early.
An association of farmers rejected the offer, saying in a statement that they cannot relinquish their dogs for such low prices. Farmers earlier called for 2 million won ($1,505) per dog. They’ve said the ban infringes on their right to choose their own jobs and will aggravate their economic difficulties.
The association said that farmers will keep fighting even if they end up being jailed. Earlier in the week, they called for the law to be amended to extend the grace period and add appropriate compensation plans.
Sangkyung Lee, a campaign manager at the Korean office of the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society International, called the South Korean announcement “an important milestone in this historic ban that will see the ban through to completion and end our country’s dog meat era for good.”
But Lee said his office is disappointed at the South Korean plan because it would pay farmers based on the number of dogs they have, “potentially increasing dog breeding to get more money from the scheme and more puppies being born into suffering.”
The Korean Animal Welfare Association, a Seoul-based animal rights group, said that local governments must strictly monitor farms to prevent them from increasing their number of dogs through breeding. It praised the government for trying to take reasonable steps to phase out the industry but criticized farmers for seeking excessive compensation.
Dog meat consumption is a centuries-old practice on the Korean Peninsula. It's also eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and some African countries. But South Korea’s dog meat industry has drawn more attention because of the country’s reputation as a cultural and economic powerhouse. It’s also the only nation with industrial-scale dog farms.
South Korea’s anti-dog meat campaign received a big boost from the country’s first lady, Kim Keon Hee, who repeatedly expressed her support for a prohibition. She was subjected to withering criticism and crude insults during demonstrations by farmers.
Surveys have found that around one in three South Koreans opposes the ban, though most people now don’t eat dog meat.
Vice Agriculture Minister Park Beomsu told reporters that government studies found that about 466,000 dogs are currently being raised for food across South Korea. He said officials will try to convince farmers to voluntarily phase out dog breeding ahead of the ban.
After the ban comes into force, Park said, the government plans to facilitate adoptions for the remaining dogs or move them to care facilities rather than euthanize them.
The agriculture ministry said butchers will also be compensated, while local authorities will be responsible for dismantling dog farms and slaughterhouses. Former farmers and butchers will also get low-interests loans if they pivot to other agricultural businesses.
The ministry said authorities will also offer financial assistance to traders and restaurant owners to shut down their businesses and find new jobs.
FILE - Dog farmers shout slogans during a rally against the government-led dog meat banning bill in front of the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea on Nov. 30, 2023. The letters read "Guarantee the right to life and freedom of choice of occupation." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
FILE - Dogs are seen in cages at a dog farm in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on June 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
DENVER (AP) — Mikko Rantanen scored twice in the third period to complete his ninth career hat trick, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-2 on Wednesday night.
Rantanen’s goal at 10:01, his second of the night, gave Colorado the lead in the third and he added an empty-net goal with 1:59 remaining for his second hat trick of the season. Artturi Lehkonen also scored and Alexandar Georgiev made 13 saves for the Avalanche.
Nathan MacKinnon, who had three assists, has at least one point in 16 of 17 games this season and all 10 home games.
Los Angeles goaltender Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves before leaving early in the third period with an apparent injury. David Rittich finished with three saves.
Adrian Kempe had two goals, including one 32 seconds into the game, for the Kings. Lehkonen tied it at 3:40 of the first period but Kempe scored again off of a Colorado turnover with 4:09 remaining in the opening period.
Rantanen tied it with 3:53 left in the second second.
Kings: Did not record a shot on goal in the second period. Kevin Fiala’s breakaway shot that rang off the right post midway through and then Los Angeles had its first shot in more than 23 minutes at 55 seconds of the third.
Avalanche: The power play struggled all night. Colorado didn’t have a shot on goal in its first three man-advantages and had trouble generating any momentum.
Logan O’Connor battled two Kings players along the boards before MacKinnon dug out the puck and backhanded it to Rantanen, and he beat Rittich to put Colorado ahead.
Jared Bednar coached in his 635th game with the Avalanche, breaking a tie with Michel Bergeron for the most in franchise history.
The Kings host Detroit on Saturday, and Avalanche host Washington on Friday to finish a four-game homestand.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 134, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, center, drives between Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta, left, and center Parker Kelly in pursuit of the puck in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Jordan Spence, left, fights for control of the puck with Colorado Avalanche right wing Logan O'Connor in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, front, redirects a shot past Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield, center, as goaltender Darcy Kuemper makes a save in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere, center, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, left, and defenseman Cale Makar cover in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, front, collects the puck as Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Lewis pursues in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings left wing Kevin Fiala, left, avoids Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev after he stopped a shot off Fiala's stick in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev skates around the net during a time out in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere, left, pursues the puck with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, left, confers with center Casey Mittelstadt in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Wednesday, Nov. 134, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, front, collects the puck with Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe in pursuit in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Nov. 134, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
