South Korea’s Catholic leader, President Moon Jae-in, has suggested that the time has come to ban the sale of dog meat in the country.
Around 1 million dogs are slaughtered for food in South Korea each year, but numbers are declining as increasingly Westernised youngsters are shunning the practice.
Moon asked for Koreans to ‘prudently’ consider whether such a ban must now come to an end, with more humane attitudes towards dogs prevailing as more Koreans adopt them as pets.
Recent surveys show that the majority of Koreans do not eat dog meat and most also support a ban on the sale of it.
With a presidential election on the way next year, Moon’s position is one that has been echoed by other potential candidates.
During the last election, he adopted a rescue dog and has unveiled plans to revamp the country’s approach to abandoned animals.
Moon is a Catholic, having been raised in the faith by his mother. His faith has informed his diplomacy efforts with North Korea.
