ENFORCEMENT DECREE OF THE SPECIAL ACT ON THE TERMINATION OF BREEDING, SLAUGHTER, AND DISTRIBUTION OF DOGS FOR CONSUMPTION

Article 1(Purpose) #

The purpose of this Decree is to prescribe matters mandated by the Special Act on the Termination of Breeding, Slaughter, and Distribution of Dogs for Consumption and matters necessary for its enforcement.

Article 2(Formulation procedures for master plans for termination of consumption of dogs) #

(1) If it is necessary for formulating the master plan for termination of dog meat consumption (hereinafter referred to as the “master plan”) under Article 6(1) of the Special Act on the Termination of Breeding, Slaughter, and Distribution of Dogs for Consumption (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”), the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may request the heads of relevant central administrative agencies, the heads of local governments, and the heads of relevant institutions and organizations to provide necessary data.

(2) Where the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs formulates a master plan, he or she shall publicly announce the master plan on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and notify the head of the relevant central administrative agency, the Special Metropolitan City Mayor, a Metropolitan City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Do Governor, or a Special Self-Governing Province Governor (hereinafter referred to as "Mayor/Do Governor") and the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (referring to the head of an autonomous Gu; hereinafter the same shall apply) thereof.

Article 3(Composition of the Committee on Termination of Dog Meat Consumption) #

(1) "Relevant central administrative agencies prescribed by Presidential Decree" in Article 8 (4) of the Act means the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Planning and Budget, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025; Dec. 30, 2025>

(2) The term of office of members commissioned under Article 8(4) of the Act shall be 2 years, and they may be reappointed only once.

(3) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may dismiss a member commissioned under Article 8(4) of the Act if the member falls under any of the following cases:

1. Where a member becomes unable to conduct his or her duties for a long time due to mental or physical disorders, etc.;

2. Where a member commits a misdeed in connection with his or her duties;

3. Where a member is deemed unfit to serve as a member due to neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming, or any other reason;

4. Where a member voluntarily indicates that it is impracticable for him or her to perform his or her duties.

Article 4(Duties of chairperson of the Committee on Termination of Dog Meat Consumption) #

(1) The chairperson of the Committee on Termination of Dog Meat Consumption (hereinafter referred to as "the Committee") (hereinafter referred to as "chairperson") under Article 8 of the Act shall represent the Committee and have general supervision and control of its affairs.

(2) When the chairperson is unable to perform his or her duties due to unavoidable reasons, a member designated in advance by the chairperson shall perform his or her duties.

Article 5(Operation of the Committee on Termination of Dog Meat Consumption) #

(1) A meeting of the Committee shall be convened by the chairperson when at least 1/3 of the incumbent members request it or the chairperson deems it necessary.

(2) A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and any resolution thereof shall require the concurring vote of a majority of those present.

(3) The Committee shall have an executive secretary to handle the administrative affairs of the Committee, who shall be appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs from among public officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

(4) If the chairperson deems it necessary to deliberate on matters specified in the subparagraphs of Article 8(2) of the Act, he or she may have relevant experts, interested persons, etc. attend a meeting of the Committee to hear their opinions.

(5) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (1) through (4), matters necessary for the operation, etc. of the Committee shall be determined by the chairperson through a resolution of the Committee.

Article 6(Persons eligible for business closure support) #

(1) Any person who intends to receive support necessary for business closure, etc. under Article 11(1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as "support for business closure") shall satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. He or she shall file a report and submit an implementation plan under Article 10(1) and (3) of the Act;

2. The closure of business shall be completed by February 6, 2027.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person who falls under any of the following subparagraphs shall be excluded from support for business closure:

1. A person who has not engaged in business for the purpose of using dogs for food for a period of 1 year or more as of February 6, 2024, and is recognized by a Special Self-Governing City Mayor, a Special Self-Governing Province Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu (hereinafter referred to as the "head of a Si/Gun/Gu") as having effectively closed down or transited the business;

2. A person who newly or additionally installs or operates a facility that falls under any of the following subparagraphs of Article 9 of the Act after February 6, 2024.

Article 7(Procedures for business closure support) #

(1) Those who wish to receive support for business closure shall fill out an application for support for business closure in the form according to the following categories and submit it to the head of a Si/Gun/Gu:

1. Farm owner: Application for support for business closure of farm owners in Form 1;

2. Dog butcher (refers to a person who slaughters and processes dogs for consumption; hereinafter the same shall apply): A written application for business closure of a dog slaughterhouse in Form 2;

3. Dog meat trader (referring to a person who distributes and sells dogs or food prepared using dogs as raw materials for human consumption; hereinafter the same shall apply): An application for support for business closure of a dog meat trader in Form 3;

4. Dog meat food service provider: A written application for the business closure of dog meat food service providers in Form 4.

(2) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (1), the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall examine and verify whether the applicant is eligible for support for business closure under Article 6, and determine whether to provide support, and notify the applicant of the results thereof. In such cases, the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall issue a written confirmation of eligibility for support for business closure, such as farm owners in Form 5 to a person determined eligible for support for business closure.

(3) Upon giving a notice under paragraph (2), the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall notify the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, and a Mayor/Do Governor of such fact.

Article 8(Details of business closure support) #

(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, a Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall subsidize the farm owners who have been determined to provide support under Article 7(2) to cover the amount estimated by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the residual value of facilities of dog breeding farms, and the removal of the relevant facilities, in order to facilitate the business closure.

(2) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, a Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall subsidize the dog butchers who are determined to be subsidized under Article 7(2) to cover the remaining value of a slaughterhouse and processing facilities for dog meat.

(3) The Minister of Food and Drug Safety, a Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall provide support for matters deemed necessary by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety in order to proceed with procedures for the closure of business, such as legal counseling on business closure, to dog meat traders and dog meat food service providers, who are determined to be provided with support under Article 7(2). In such cases, the Minister of Food and Drug Safety may provide support for business closure in connection with support programs for micro enterprises under Article 12 of the Act on the Protection of and Support for Micro Enterprises in consultation with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs may fully or partially reduce the amount of subsidies for business closure under paragraph (1), as determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, in any of the following cases:

1. Where the relevant dog breeding farm has a structure that has not received a permit or has not been reported in accordance with Article 11, 14 or 20 of the Building Act;

2. Where the relevant dog breeding farm has a structure that has not received approval for use under Article 22 of the Building Act;

3. Where the relevant dog breeding farm has installed and operated a discharge facility without reporting under the former of Article 11(3) of the Act on the Management and Use of Livestock Excreta;

4. Where the dog breeding farm is located on land that is not reported for the conversion of farmland in accordance with the former of Article 35 of the Farmland Act;

5. Where the implementation plan submitted in accordance with Article 10(3) of the Act is not implemented;

Article 9(Eligibility for business transition support) #

(1) A person who wishes to receive support for the facilities and operating funds necessary for business transition (hereinafter referred to as "business transition support") under Article 12(1) of the Act shall satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. He or she shall file a report and submit an implementation plan under Article 10(1) and (3) of the Act;

2. He or she shall complete business closure (applies only to a farm owner and dog butchers) or business transition (only applicable to dog meat traders and dog meat food service providers) by February 6, 2027.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a person specified in any of the following subparagraphs shall be excluded from business transition support:

1. A person recognized by the head of a Si/Gun/Gu as having effectively closed or transited his or her business, such as not engaging in the business for the purpose of consumption of dogs for a period of at least 1 year as of February 6, 2024;

2. A person who newly or additionally installs or operates a facility that falls under any of the following subparagraphs of Article 9 of the Act after February 6, 2024.

Article 10(Procedures for business transition support) #

(1) A person who wishes to receive support for business transition shall fill out an application for business transition in the form according to the following categories and submit it to the head of a Si/Gun/Gu:

1. Farm owner: An application for support for business transition of a dog farm in Form 1;

2. Dog meat butcher: An application for business transition of a dog butcher in Form 2;

3. Dog meat trader: An application for business transition of a dog meat trader in Form 3;

4. Dog meat food service provider: An application for business transition of dog meat food service in Form 4.

(2) Upon receipt of an application under paragraph (1), the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall examine and verify whether the applicant is eligible for support for business transition under Article 6, determine whether to provide support, and notify the applicant of the results thereof. In such cases, the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall issue a written confirmation of eligibility for support for business transition, such as a farm owner in Form 5 to a person determined eligible for support for business transition.

(3) Upon giving a notice under paragraph (2), the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall notify the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Minister of Food and Drug Safety, and a Mayor/Do Governor of such fact.

Article 11(Details of business transition support) #

(1) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, a Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall provide support for the following matters to dog farm owners and dog butchers who are determined to be subsidized under Article 10(2):

1. Support for loans for facility funds and operating funds required for business transition; provided, this shall be limited to cases where all of the following requirements are satisfied:

a. The applicant shall be equipped with collateral necessary for the loan;

b. The applicant shall be able to secure self-funding for business transition at a rate equal to or greater than the percentage determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs;

c. The applicant shall meet the requirements determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, such as the details of business and the appropriateness of the repayment plan;

2. It must be equipped with collateral necessary for the loan;

3. Providing information and consulting on business transition;

4. Other matters deemed necessary by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to facilitate business transition.

(2) The Minister of Food and Drug Safety, a Mayor/Do Governor, or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall provide support for the following matters to dog meat traders and dog meat food service providers who are determined to be supported under Article 10(2):

1. Subsidization to cover expenses for the replacement of facilities, supplies, etc. for business transition;

2. Provision of information and consulting on food hygiene in the business after transition;

3. Other matters deemed necessary by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to facilitate business transition.

(3) The Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs shall provide the Minister of Food and Drug Safety with the results of a fact-finding survey under Article 7 of the Act to facilitate the support for business transition under paragraph (2).

(4) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (1) through (3), necessary matters concerning the details, standards, etc. of support for business transition shall be determined and publicly notified by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the Minister of Food and Drug Safety.

Article 12(Order for implementation measures) #

(1) The head of a Si/Gun/Gu may issue an order under Article 14(1) of the Act (hereafter referred to as "order" in this paragraph) to a person who has committed any of the following violations, as specified in the relevant subparagraph:

1. In case of non-compliance with the provisions of Article 14(1)1 of the Act: To take necessary measures such as voluntary demolition and voluntary suspension of operation of the facilities that are newly or additionally installed or operated within 30 days from the date of order;

2. In case of non-compliance with the provisions of Article 14(1)2 of the Act: To take necessary measures such as reporting under Article 10 of the Act, submission and implementation of an implementation plan, or preparation and keeping of individual management status within 15 days from the date of order.

(2) Where the head of a Si/Gun/Gu issues an order to take measures necessary for implementation or to close the relevant place of business under Article 14(1) and (2) of the Act, he or she shall do so in writing, specifying the grounds for, and details and period of, the relevant order.

(3) The competent public officials who take measures under each subparagraph of Article 14(3) of the Act shall carry a certificate indicating their authority and produce it to interested persons.

(4) The head of a Si/Gun/Gu shall issue an order under Article 14(1) or (2) of the Act within 14 days from the date on which he or she completes a hearing under Article 14(4) of the Act and notifies the result of the hearing, unless there is a compelling reason not to do so.

Article 13(Administrative fines) #

The standards for imposing administrative fines under Article 18(1) and (2) of the Act are as specified in Appendix.