South Korea dog meat farms close ahead of 2027 ban

South Korea’s dog meat industry is rapidly contracting as the country approaches a nationwide prohibition deadline on February 7, 2027. Government data indicates that approximately 87 percent of the nation’s 1,537 registered dog meat farms have already shut down, leaving only 198 operational facilities.

Animal welfare organizations are conducting final rescue operations to save the estimated 7,600 dogs remaining in these facilities. Humane World for Animals recently completed a large-scale rescue in Gangjin County, removing more than 70 dogs from a farm that previously raised up to 1,000 dogs annually. Many of these rescued animals are being transported to the United States and Canada to find permanent homes.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reported that roughly 468,000 canines were held across the country's farms when the legislative ban was initially approved. Government inspectors are scheduled to investigate all remaining locations during the final months of the year to ensure compliance with the transition toward higher animal welfare standards.