The mayor of Seoul, South Korea, has officially announced the closing of all dog slaughterhouses in the city.
Eight slaughter facilities at Gyeongdong Market and Jungang Market were reported closed earlier this week, and the city’s last three slaughterhouses shut down yesterday.
“Through persuasion for many years, we stopped all slaughter in Seoul,” said Mayor Park Park Won-soon. “We will maintain the city as a slaughter-free place to promote the dignity of animal coexistence. If Seoul slaughter activity occurs again, we will use all means to block it.”
Despite this important step, the fight is far from over. There is still no law banning sale or consumption of dog and cat meat, leaving dog meat restaurants in Seoul still open for business. And in other areas of Korea, innocent dogs continue to be hanged, beaten and burned alive for their meat.
Still, the tides appear to be shifting in South Korea, where a 2018 Gallup Korea survey reported that 70 percent of citizens said they would not eat dog meat in the future. This sentiment likely reflects the fact that one in four Koreans now has a pet, according to a 2018 KB Financial Group survey. This includes South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who adopted a shelter dog in 2017.
Hundreds of thousands of LFT supporters have signed petitions and written letters to end dog and cat meat, joining global organizations and activists working hard to stop the cruelty.
We will continue fighting to end the brutal dog and cat meat trade across Korea and around the world with petitions, bus ads, investigations and direct aid to rescuers on the ground saving innocent animals from slaughter.
We will not stop until the horrific industry is shut down completely. But we can’t do it without your help. If you haven’t signed yet, please add your name now to the petition to ban all dog and cat meat in South Korea.

All of the people involved in harming an innocent animal should go to prison
Thank you for shutting down all the slaughter houses and yes, the ones who continue to do these evil things need to be punished. But thank you for finally ending a nightmare for these dogs.
But does this mean shutting down the breeders and sale of dog meat? This is my question.
Cruelty needs to STOP!
Please be kind to all animals…please afford them a good quality of life…and please STOP ALL SALES OF FUR (would you like to be skinned).
Thank you to the people here who are including cats in their comments.
In places where dog meat and slaughter has been in the spotlight, cats are the go-to option.
Trucks full of horribly abused cats bound for slaughter are now being found.
PLEASE don’t forget it’s not only dogs who suffer this horrible fate.
Again – thank you.Thank you for fighting for ALL animals.
NEVER stop
shut down all and everywhere and prosecute
But Seoul has not banned the sale of dog and cat meat.
Shut them all down now!!!!!!!
RIP poor babies that have died.
This cruel and senseless act has to end now ADAP, please please think about it
Thank you for shutting down these horrible places. Please shut them all down! We are counting on you. Thank you.
Dogs and cats are the most beautiful animals God has created!! They are smart and are man;s best friend/ They are not to be tortured or eaten. It’s unethical to do that. Love the fur babies! There is great gratitude when they are loved.
Good progress, but as stated, still some way to go to shut down the outlets selling dog and cat meat. We need to generate more pressure and get the attention of the SEOUL media as well to assist.
Good progress, but as stated, still some way to go to shut down the outlets selling dog and cat meat. We need to generate more pressure and get the attention of the SEOUL media as well to assist.
Close down the deadly Santa Anita racetrack. Too many horses have died. The negatives outweigh the positives.
thank God!!!!
Amen!
Let’s hope other Countries soon follow suite. Way to go S. Korea!
THAT IS AWESOME!!!
Glad to hear it. Good progress.
This achievement is due to the relentless, hardworking animal advocates from around the world. Kudos to all of you! Let’s not give up on all the other places in Asia that still practise this abominable food trade! It might help to solidfy Seoul’s Mayor’s decision if we could write him. We don’t want this city going back on their word once a new leader is elected. I also wonder what steps are in place to ensure compliance with this initiative?
Any little helps ,keep passing these letters and make aware to every one the cruelty that goes on
This is just a small step towards the ending of the horrific abuse, torture and torment that the innocent, voiceless dogs and cats endure day after day, just so these heartless masses can justify their perverted beliefs that tortured animals’ meat tastes better, cures ALL their ailments and make the ugly-hearted, soul-less ‘men’ more virile. Perhaps I’m being totally cynical but no doubt the dog/cat killers will continue to work ‘underground’ and still supply the depraved masses with their ‘food’ I really don’t know if this horrendous atrocity will ever completely stop but nevertheless I shall continue to sign petitions, donate to charities and try and ‘forget’ the tears, the heartache and the despair that I feel for ALL the dogs and cats that are still suffering.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO ADD THE CATS TO YOUR PROTESTS. THEY FEEL THE SAME PAIN, THEY DESERVE THE SAME PROTECTION. AND PLEASE DON’T ADD THE WORD CAT AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT OR HIDE SOMEWHERE IN THE TEXT SO THAT THEY HAVE AN EXCUSE TO “MISS” THAT PART!! IF YOU CARE ABOUT ANIMALS, PLEASE CARE
ABOUT THEM ALL. DON’T CLAIM YOU DO AND THEN IGNORE THE CATS… THAT’S JUST HYPOCRITICAL.
Wonderful News its Great Start to End Dog slaughter in Korea Changing a barbaric Culture practice takes Time.