In South Korea, Bok Nal is a month-long period in July and August that marks the hottest days of the year. During this time, some residents eat certain foods they believe help to ease the heat, including dog meat soup. Although most Koreans don’t eat dog meat, dog meat soup typically rises in popularity during Bok Nal. But times are changing, and demand for dog meat is at an all-time low.
Ahead of the second Bok Nal since the passage of the Special Act to ban the dog meat industry in South Korea in 2024, our team at Humane World for Animals Korea marked the launch of our new public awareness campaign with a fun-filled event in Seoul. More than 100 attendees and their dogs came together in celebration of South Korea’s historic move away from factory farming dogs for meat.
Jean Chung/Humane World for Animals
Community members and their dogs at the event enjoyed a scenic walk or run, photo booth and tasty treats. One highlight was our large message wall, where participants shared their heartfelt hopes for the future—calling for a swift, permanent end to the dog meat industry.
This isn’t the first time that we’ve marked the summer season with an event to promote dog welfare. Last year, we participated in a cultural festival hosted by a coalition of animal protection organizations, where we paid tribute to all the dogs who have suffered or died because of the dog meat industry.
For over a decade, we have worked towards ending the dog meat industry in South Korea. Our Models for Change program, launched in 2015, worked cooperatively with farmers to permanently close 18 dog meat farms; through this program and additional farm rescues, we have saved almost 2,800 dogs, and supported the transition of farmers to other ways of making a living. When we first started this work, we were told that achieving a ban would be impossible. But our program demonstrated that there was a way to end the industry, and when the National Assembly passed the ban, we achieved the impossible. The ban on the dog meat industry in the country is slated to take full effect in 2027.
As the industry is being phased out, we are continuing our lifesaving rescue work. Just this past May, we saved 67 dogs from another dog meat farm, giving each of them a second chance at life.
Jean Chung/Humane World for Animals
This campaign is more than just fun—it’s an essential part of what we’re working to do here at Humane World for Animals. We are creating the world on which our vision and our name is based. And that means inspiring solidarity among people with a shared compassion for animals and starting new traditions that celebrate the end of cruelty. When we first launched our campaign to end dog meat consumption in South Korea, there were more than 17,000 farms where up to 3 million dogs languished in the industry. About 40% of dog farms in South Korea have closed since the ban was passed. Soon, that will all be behind us. Together, there is nothing we cannot achieve for animals.
