South Korean Dog Farmers Protest Proposed Ban on Dog Meat Industry
• South Korean dog farmers protested proposed legislation to ban dog meat consumption, scuffling with police during a rally near the presidential office.
• The government and ruling party agreed to introduce legislation by year's end to phase out the centuries-old dog meat industry by 2027.
• Protesters criticized the move, with some threatening to kill themselves if the ban goes through. They want a longer grace period and financial compensation.
• The ban has new momentum with support from first lady Kim Keon Hee, though protesters made crude insults of her at the rally.
• Farmers say the practice will fade away naturally as older Koreans, the main customers, die out and few young people eat dog meat.