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

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."

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