South Korea's parliament endorses landmark legislation outlawing dog meat industry

Animal rights activists stage a rally opposing South Korea's traditional culture of eating dog meat in Seoul, South Korea on July 8, 2023. (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's parliament on Tuesday endorsed landmark legislation outlawing the country's dwindling dog meat industry, as public calls for the ban have grown sharply amid animal rights campaigns and worries about the country's international image.

Some angry dog farmers said they plan to file a constitutional appeal and launch rallies in protest, a suggestion that heated debate over the ban would continue.