SEOUL—As South Korea marks its final Bok Nal season before the historic Dog Meat Prohibition Act takes full effect in February 2027, animal protection organization Humane World for Animals Korea has launched a "Pawsitively Graduate from Bok Nal" campaign to support citizens in how to have a dog meat-free Bok Nal.
Traditionally a time when dog meat soup is consumed, this Bok Nal Humane World for Animals Korea has teamed up with vegan influencer Chosikmanyeo to provide three restorative, plant-based summer recipes that will help Koreans transition to a new Bok Nal culture free of dog meat.
Sangkyung Lee, campaign manager at Humane World for Animals Korea, said: “Bok Nal 2026 is the last Bok Nal before the full enforcement of the act ending dog meat consumption, after which the breeding and slaughtering of dogs for human consumption will become illegal. So, our campaign proposes to graduate from the old Bok Nal culture of dog meat eating and to build instead, together with the public, a new Bok Nal culture in which we care for our bodies with healthy ingredients and both people and animals are happy.”
Three summer restorative recipes unveiled
To cover the Bok Nal period from Chobok on July 15 to Malbok on Aug.14, Humane World for Animals Korea has teamed up with vegan influencer Chosikmanyeo to reveal three special summer restorative recipes. The recipes, consisting of eggplant pasta, mushroom nurungji (scorched rice) soup and restorative patbingsu (shaved ice with red beans), show that a healthy summer is possible with ingredients other than meat, and will encourage the public to recreate delicious meat-free dishes at home.
Sankyung Lee continues: “Over-consumption of meat is not necessarily a choice most healthy for the body, so our campaign proposes a new Bok Nal culture of caring for the body with healthy ingredients that everyone can enjoy and no animals suffer in the process.”
KakaoTalk emoticons feature dogs rescued from dog meat farms
KakaoTalk emoticons will be distributed to the first 25,000 people who add the Humane World for Animals Korea Kakao channel. The dogs featured in the emoticons were all rescued from dog meat farms by the charity, including Jindo mixes, Tosas and golden retrievers. At the campaign microsite, visitors can read more about the campaign and leave messages of support for ending dog meat consumption.
‘Pawsitively Graduate from Bok Nal’ ceremony on Malbok
A ‘Powsitively Graduate from Bok Nal’ in person event will take place in Seoul on Aug. 15, the day after Malbok, in the form of a graduation ceremony celebrating a departure from dog meat consumption. Vegan influencer Chosikmanyeo, who developed the plant-based summer restorative recipes, will join the ceremony and lead a cook and taste session. A centrepiece of the event will be an exhibition by students from the Kaywon University of Art & Design depicting support for animal protection and an end to dog meat. A photo booth will also provide visitors with a keepsake photograph from the day with their companion dogs.
90% of the public already say they ‘will not eat dog meat in future’
Surveys show that most Koreans already reject eating dog meat. According to a Nielsen survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals Korea in November 2025, 90% of respondents answered that they ‘will not eat dog meat in future’. Humane World for Animals Korea believes that for the small percentage of people who still currently eat dog meat, providing flavorful, plant-based alternatives will help them eat differently once the new law takes full effect and dog meat is off the menu.
Humane World for Animals Korea is the Seoul office of international animal protection charity Humane World for Animals that works across Asia in China, Indonesia, South Korea, India and Viet Nam to end the dog and cat meat trade. We pursue change through legislation, community engagement, animal rescue, rabies vaccination and livelihood transition programs, working both directly and with local partners. Since 2015, through its ‘Models for Change’ program, the organization has permanently closed 18 dog meat farms in South Korea, rescued dogs from a further 10 farms or markets, and in total rescued almost 2,800 dogs from the country’s dog meat industry.
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Download photos and video of our most recent dog meat farm rescue: HERE
Notes to editors:
- South Korea’s ban or Special Act on the dog meat industry was unanimously passed in the National Assembly in January 2024. It comes into full effect on Feb. 6, 2027, making it illegal to farm, kill, butcher or sell dogs or dog meat for human consumption, with penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to ₩30 million (US$20,637).
- Ministry of Agriculture statistics estimate there were 5,898 dog meat businesses at the time of the Special Act passing which include 1,537 farms, 221 slaughterhouses, 1,788 traders and 2,352 restaurants.
- Dogs suffer immensely on dog meat farms, both physically and mentally. They spend their entire lives in small, barren, wire cages without proper food, water, stimulation, comfort, shelter or veterinary care. Death is by electrocution.