South Korea is experiencing what may be the last summer with dog meat soup, a traditional dish of the country that is about to be banned. The legislation prohibiting the consumption and commercialization of dog meat was passed in 2024.
The South Korean government conducted a survey across the country and identified 2,352 restaurants that served dishes with dog meat. This number reflects the extent of a culinary tradition that is about to be eliminated from the country.
The new legislation marks a significant change in South Korean food culture, putting an end to a practice that has deep historical roots in the country, but that has been increasingly criticized both nationally and internationally.
With the ban, the identified establishments will have to cease selling these dishes, closing a chapter of traditional South Korean gastronomy during this last summer before the law takes effect.
