Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Major dog meat market in Busan to close next month
In this July 16, 2018, file photo, dogs are kept in cages at the Gupo Livestock Market in northern Busan. Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
After years of criticism from animal rights groups, the largest dog meat market in Busan will close next month.
According to Busan Buk-gu Office, all 19 dog meat sellers at Gupo Livestock Market have agreed to shut down their businesses by July 11.
In return, the district office promised to give about 3.1 million won ($2,700) to each of them every month until December 2020 to help them make a new start.
After announcing its urban planning project to turn the market area into a park last October, district officials tried to persuade the sellers for months to open different types of businesses in other areas.
Animal rights activists welcomed the agreement.
“We wholeheartedly welcome and support the district office's effort to end the trade of dog meat in Korea,” four animal rights groups, including Korea Animal Rights Advocates, said in a joint statement.
“It is a big step forward, but Korea still has many such markets, including Chilseong Market in Daegu … We will continue to work with everyone to end the practice of eating dog meat.”