Because it is seldom sold in markets or grocery stores, few prepare dog meat at home. Today, about 1,600 restaurants nationwide still have dog meat on their menu, down from 6,400 in 1998.::The reputational fallout of eating dog meat, too, has also taken a toll. That year, the Seoul municipal government swept dog meat restaurants into alleyways, away from squeamish visiting eyes. The Korean Dog Meat Assn., a group representing dog meat farmers’ interests, has butted heads with the government over the question of compensation. Although the law deals a final blow to the dog meat trade, rising pet ownership in South Korea has also led to increased abandonment.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 15, 2024 19:17 UTC