SEOUL, A group of dog meat farmers filed a constitutional petition on Tuesday against the recently passed law banning the slaughter and sale of dog meat, saying it violates their freedom to choose occupations and property rights.

The Korean Dog Meat Association filed the petition with the Constitutional Court, along with an application to suspend the law.

In January, the National Assembly passed the law to prohibit the raising of dogs for meat, as well as the butchering, distributing and selling of dog meat.

The law is slated to formally go into force in 2027 after a three-year grace period, with violators to be subject to a maximum sentence of two years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$22,389).

In a press conference held in front of the court, members of the association claimed that the legislation infringes upon people’s right to eat as well as dog meat farmers’ freedom of occupations and property rights.

“The National Assembly and the government enacted the dog meat prohibition act wit
hout any prior consultations or promises of compensation, forcing us to stop within three years,” a member said.

“It has been nearly 50 days since the law was promulgated, but the government has not provided any means of reparation or criteria for assistance, and we are on the brink of being driven out to the street,” the member said.

Kim Tae-wook, a lawyer advising the association, urged the court to make a speedy decision on the case, saying the production and distribution industry for dog meat could fall into an irrecoverable state without it.

Source: Yonhap News Agency