SEOUL — Humane World for Animals Korea (formerly Humane Society International) has launched a public awareness campaign “BoksRun at Bok Nal!” to redefine Bok Nal — traditionally regarded as a time to consume boshintang (dog meat soup) — as a healthy and joyful day spent walking and running with family, including companion dogs.
With a promotional in-person event held at Seoul’s Hangang park on July 26, this participatory event saw an estimated 100 people and their dogs come together to celebrate South Korea’s transition to a more dog-friendly society. Participants expressed their support for the ban on the dog meat industry which causes hundreds of thousands of dogs every year to be killed for dog meat soup.
Online participants can now join BoksRun event virtually until August 10 by taking part on Instagram.
At the event, members of the public were invited to reflect on the estimated 460,000 dogs who remain on dogmeat farms, as reported by the government following the passage of the Special Act to End Dog Meat in 2024. Citizens visiting the campaign booth took photos with their friends, family and companion dogs to mark their participation in a movement toward healthy and compassionate change, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
Participants also expressed their future hopes by writing supportive notes on a large message wall, voicing their wishes for a swift end to the dog meat industry, encouragement for the redefinition of Bok Nal and the creation of a more dog-friendly society. For the comfort and safety of canine participants, the event venue was equipped with shaded rest areas, water bowls and snacks.
Many attendees noted that they became better informed about the dog meat ban because of the BoksRun event, while also voicing their hopes for stronger animal protection laws.
Kim Chamsae, an artist who attended BoksRun with her dog Billy, said: “I earnestly hope that the law will be implemented and that the dog meat industry will come to an end. I always remind myself that the earth does not belong to humans alone, and I wish for a world where we can live happily together with animals and nature.”
Yeonjin Cho, with her mixed breed dog Darong, said: " As part of a pet loving family, I felt it was only natural to participate in such a meaningful campaign. I hope that more people will become interested in the early end of dog meat consumption through Humane World for Animals Korea's ‘BoksRun at Bok Nal!’ campaign.”
Jina Chang, another participant, shared: "I have always had a vague aversion to the consumption of dog meat, but I hadn’t realized that eating dog meat is still so prevalent in society. Having only seen dogs cherished as pets, it pains me to think about the many dogs still left in dog farms being abused. I hope that the consumption of dog meat continues to decline. I also hope that animal protection laws will continue to be strengthened."
Jieun Park, who attended with her 5-year-old Maltese named Tofu, said: “Ever since I was a child, eating bosintang has always carried a negative connotation both publicly and privately, so I was glad to see the law banning dog meat pass. My own dog was rescued from a dog meat farm, and I hope more dogs like mine will find loving families and live happy lives. There’s a saying that if you name a dog after a food, it will live a long life. I’d like to name rescued dogs "Baechu" ("cabbage" in Korean) as a wish for them to live long and happy lives.”
Gaeun Park came with her Pomeranian mixed named Mandu. She said: “While working at a shelter, I adopted Mandu, a dog rescued from a wire cage. Though I’m not a fan of exercise, having a dog has led me to walk over 50 kilometers a month. When the dog meat ban finally passed, it felt like a long-awaited dream had come true. I even joined the rally in front of the National Assembly that day, holding a protest sign. In South Korea, companion dogs are still legally considered property. I sincerely hope that both the government and civil society will work together to recognize dogs as living beings and help bring a complete end to dog meat consumption.”
Over the past decade, Humane World for Animals Korea has rescued more than 2,800 dogs from dog meat farms. Before the enactment of the Special Act, the organization worked with dog meat farmers eager to exit the industry and permanently shut down 18 dog meat farms. The charity supported the livelihood transitions of the farmers through its Models for Change program which included converting farms to grow crops like mushrooms and chillis or setting up a water delivery business.
Most recently, in May this year, the charity rescued 67 dogs from a dog meat farm in Cheongju with actor Daniel Henney and flew the dogs to the U.S. for adoption. That same month, after a massive wildfire in Andong destroyed a dog meat farm killing 700 dogs, the organization helped transport seven surviving Tosa dogs—rescued by the coalition group “Lucy’s Friends”—to its care and rehabilitation center in the U.S.
Every Bok Nal, Humane World for Animals Korea marks the summer season with an event to promote dog welfare. While last year the charity participated in a cultural festival hosted by a coalition of animal protection organizations with the slogan ‘Happy together Bok Nal’, this year it hosted its own event on July 19, just ahead of the first Bok Nal, at Yeouido Hangang Park.
Sangkyung Lee, campaign manager at Humane World for Animals Korea, said, “Although most Koreans don’t eat dog meat soup ordinarily, Bok Nal has long been associated with eating dog meat or chicken in an effort to beat the summer heat and stay healthy. Such consumption has not only perpetuated the suffering of many thousands of dogs but also led to excessive meat consumption which, ironically, can have serious health implications because consuming animal-based diets has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. As South Korea prepares for the dog meat ban to come into full force in 2027, we look forward to becoming a more dog-friendly society. So, with our BoksRun campaign, we want to reimagine Bok Nal as a time for fun, energizing activities, where people can feel healthier and active by walking or running with their dogs and friends, not by eating more meat such as dog meat. It was great to see so many dog-lovers join us for the launch in person and online, celebrating dogs and the dog meat ban together.”
The “BoksRun at Bok Nal!” campaign will continue online until August 10, just after the last Bok Nal of the season. Already, many participants have joined the virtual run by posting photos of themselves walking 4,600 steps or running 4.6 kilometers—both inspired by the symbolic number 46 representing the 460,000 dogs still trapped in the dog meat industry.
How to take part in “BoksRun at Bok Nal!” from July 19 to August 10
- Walk or run 4.6 km—or take 4,600 steps. If you have one, take your dog with you!
- Take a photo of yourself (and your canine companion) participating in the event along with your recorded steps from your phone or watch
- Post the photo/s on Instagram and be sure to include the hashtags #BokNalBoksRun and #ByeByeDogmeat and follow and tag @humaneworldkorea.
ENDS
Download photos and video from Boks-Run event
Notes
- 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 in February 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’s passage, which included 1,537 farms, 221 slaughterhouses, 1,788 traders and 2,352 restaurants.
- Latest opinion surveys show that most South Koreans (86%) don’t have any interest in eating dog meat.
- Dogs on farms live their entire lives in cramped wire cages without proper food, water, stimulation, comfort, protection, or veterinary care—and are typically slaughtered by electrocution.
- Humane World for Animals South Korea is the Seoul office of international animal protection charity Humane World for Animals that campaigns across Asia and with local partner groups in China, Indonesia, South Korea, India and Viet Nam to end the dog and cat meat trade.