As Kim Jong-kil tends to the large, short-haired dogs kept in rusty cages on his farm, he reflects on his family's 27-year involvement in the dog meat industry.
However, amidst increasing attempts by politicians and activists to ban the business, Kim is now passing the operation on to his children.
The campaign against the dog meat industry received significant backing when the country's first lady expressed her support for a ban, and two lawmakers introduced bills to eliminate the trade. Despite this, the prospect of enacting an anti-dog meat law remains uncertain due to protests from farmers, restaurant owners, and others involved in the industry.
While a portion of the South Korean population opposes such a ban, most people no longer consume dog meat.
The number of dog farms has reduced by half in recent years, with approximately 3,000 to 4,000 farms remaining. An estimated 700,000 to one million dogs are slaughtered annually, a significant decrease from several million a decade or two ago.
Activists argue that these figures might be exaggerated to portray the industry as too substantial to dismantle. The government-civilian task force established to consider outlawing dog meat has faced challenges, particularly regarding disputes over compensation for farmers.
Some farmers are open to closing their farms, and legislation has been proposed to provide support programs for those willing to transition away from the industry.
However, a subset of farmers wants to continue for about 20 more years until their older customer base diminishes naturally.
Critics argue that prolonging the killing of millions of dogs is unacceptable, and the practice is considered anachronistic, cruel to animals, and an obstacle to the country's progress.
The debate surrounding the future of dog meat farming in South Korea continues, with passionate opinions on both sides of the issue.
