A dog is shown locked in a cage at a dog meat farm in Asan, South Korea.
Jean Chung
/
For HSI

As a sure sign that hope, hard work and determination can triumph over adversity, South Korea’s National Assembly passed legislation earlier this year to ban the dog meat industry. This historic decision, following years of our advocacy and unwavering commitment to change, marks a clear victory for compassion and progress.

As part of a three-year phaseout, dog farmers will be able to apply to receive government support to transition to alternative livelihoods.

Almost a decade ago, when Humane Society International/Korea embarked on a nationwide campaign to show it was possible to end the dog meat industry with farmer cooperation, skeptics dismissed the possibility of a ban. Yet, fueled by determination and a strong belief in change, we proved them wrong.

Together, even in the toughest of circumstances, we’re making the world a kinder place for animals.

These dogs will be amazing ambassadors for our efforts to end the cruelty of the dog meat trade, and we hope to open a dialogue with the South Korean government about doing just that.

 Kitty Block in 2015, then-vice president of HSI, to the Chicago Tribune about our first rescue

Farm 18 before it was closed and transitioned to a crop farm.
Farms that once raised dogs for humans to eat now grow herbs, fruits and vegetables.
Sangkyung Lee
/
HSI
Former dog meat farm in Chungcheong province closed by HSI/Korea in March 2023 now transitioned to a crop farm.
Mr. Kim
Borami Seo
/
HSI/Korea HSI

Before Humane Society International, I wouldn’t talk to the dogs, and I stopped myself from caring about them because it made it harder selling them to traders. But after I decided to work with [HSI], I started to talk to these dogs and told them to hang on. I told them they are going to have a much better life. And I mean it. I feel really great and happy for them.

Mr. Kim, former dog meat farmer who transitioned to growing vegetables, to the Sydney Morning Herald

Sangkyung Lee, Dog Meat Campaign Manager of HSI Korea, at a dog meat farm in Ansan City, South Korea
Sangkyung Lee, Dog Meat Campaign Manager of HSI Korea, at a dog meat farm in Ansan City, South Korea.
Jean Chung
/
For HSI
Sangkyung Lee, Dog Meat Campaign Manager of HSI Korea, interacts with a dog at a dog meat farm
HSI helps dog meat farmers transition to more humane livelihoods. Sangkyung Lee says the farmers he meets are symbols of change in South Korea. “We’re showing there’s a future where dogs are only friends, not food.”
Jean Chung
/
For HSI

The images of empty cages after all the dogs were rescued deeply move me. When we walked through the cages during previous visits to the farms, I was overwhelmed by the noise, and my heart ached seeing injured dogs covered in filth. But after the rescue, the crying ceased, and the brutal scenes were replaced by a sense of calm. This project couldn’t have been so successful without my colleagues from around the world. The strong connection, support and seamless teamwork I felt underscored our collective efforts. I have learned from this experience that we need to talk to animals with our heart and talk to humans with kind words.

Sangkyung Lee, HSI/Korea campaign manager for dog meat

Borami Seo of HSI Korea, pets a dog at a dog meat farm.
Juliette, the golden retriever pictured here with HSI's Borami Seo, found a loving home with actor Daniel Henney, who has become an advocate for change. We still have a long road ahead to see zero dog meat farms or restaurants, but this law puts us one giant step closer to making it a reality.
Jean Chung
/
For HSI

This new law means Korea acknowledging the brutality and cruelty involved in the dog meat industry and opening a new chapter for not only dogs but for overall animal welfare. This also symbolizes a win for everyone in the Humane Society family whose sweat, tears and souls have gone into making this happen.

Borami Seo, HSI/Korea director of government affairs

Headshot of Jean Chung
Since January 2017, Jean Chung has been photographing HSI’s campaign in Korea to end the dog meat trade. To do that, she went to dozens of different dog meat farms around the country. Each farm was different in terms of the structures and the scale. But there was one dog who stood out in her mind: Juliette (above).
Courtesy Jean Chung

I grew up thinking the dogs we Koreans ate were different from pet dogs. The general perception of the dogs on the farms in Korea has changed dramatically thanks to the animal welfare groups and concerned citizens, and meat trading will be banned in three years. I am really glad to know that Koreans are now more aware of animal rights, especially dogs and cats. That means more and more Koreans see no difference between the dogs used for food and dogs we live together with as a family. I hope this can be the first step to a better life for these dogs and that this helps reduce the consumption of other animals.

Jean Chung, freelance photographer

Lola Webber, Campaign Manager for South Korea of HSI, holds Moon Bears' puppy at a dog meat farm in Siheung, South Korea.
More than 14 years ago, Lola Webber promised a dog she couldn't save that she would not give up until the trade ended. She kept her word.
Jean Chung
/
For HSI

We permanently closed 18 dog meat farms and assisted with the closure of the nation’s dog meat markets and largest dog slaughterhouse, rescuing more than 2,700 dogs and ending the cycle of suffering for countless more. The process of closing the farms took many months of working with the farmers to understand them and explain how we can help them make the transition. Many months of preparing the dogs—vet checks, vaccinations, finding placements in the U.S., UK or Canada. Months of visits and seeing the dogs watch you walk away, not knowing that you are coming back. During every farm closure, I would wonder when it would be the last one, when we would finally succeed in our shared promise. It was a campaign of such heartache at times, but we knew we would never give up because we knew this was a fight we had to win. Failing was never an option.

Lola Webber, consultant to HSI for ending the dog meat trade

Adam Parascandola, Director of Animal Protection and Crisis Response of Humane Society International (HSI), rescues Ava at a dog meat farm.
Through our Models for Change program, we've rescued nearly 3,000 dogs from the dog meat trade and worked directly with farmers wanting to exit the industry for good.
Jean Chung
/
For HSI

In early 2016, I recall visiting dog meat farms in South Korea we were then unable to close, facing the heartache of leaving dogs behind in freezing conditions. Despite the emotional toll, I felt a flicker of hope when the National Institutes of Health announced its intention to end chimpanzee testing and retire the animals. I dreamt of similar success for Korean dogs, though the task felt daunting. Over years of advocacy and countless trips to Korea, things began to change. Now, just eight years later, the announcement of the ban feels surreal. South Korea may lead the end of dog meat, a testament to perseverance and progress.

Adam Parascandola, vice president of our Animal Rescue Team

Wendy Higgins, HSI Director of International Media, gently kisses Robin, who is bound for the UK, at a dog meat farm.
Since Wendy Higgins’ first visit to a South Korean dog meat farm in 2016, she’s eagerly awaited this ban. When word finally came at 4 a.m. where she was, she could at last release a long-held breath. While she longed to be with colleagues to celebrate, she was sitting alone with her dog Pip, her laptop poised to alert the world's media.
Jean Chung
/
For HSI

No matter how many dog farms I’ve been to, it’s always shocking to be confronted by the deafening noise of hundreds of panicked dogs barking, the overpowering stench and the devastating injustice of this awful existence these remarkable animals are forced to endure. I am always amazed to see how resilient these dog meat trade survivors can be despite the ordeal they have been through. Although mental scars may linger, that doesn’t stop them living their best lives in their loving families and enjoying all the toys, treats, long walks, belly rubs and kisses that every dog deserves. Nothing beats seeing dog meat trade survivors running zoomies. They spend so long locked away in a tiny metal cage, the freedom to finally be able to use up their energy and race around must feel so liberating. I never get tired of seeing that.

Wendy Higgins, director of international media


Shelters and rescues around the world have played a pivotal role in supporting this journey. HSI/Korea has permanently closed 18 dog meat farms and rescued more than 2,700 dogs who found adoptive homes in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. With limited adoption opportunities in South Korea, these dogs faced bleak futures until HSI stepped in, providing hope and a chance for a new life.

Collage of dogs, survivors of the dog meat trade.
Video Details
Survivors of the dog meat trade

Top row: Faith, Rainey, Emily, Nara. Second row: Doong with family DJ and David, Chewy with family HSI president Jeff Flocken and his daughter Collette, Bounce with mom Kate Sibley, Minnow with mom Abbie Hubbard. Third row: Florence, Caspian, Camo, Roxy.

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