There is conflicting information on the number of farmed dogs, slaughterhouses and markets across South Korea, the only country in Asia where dogs are routinely killed for human consumption.
But the HSI estimates around two million dogs are being kept in around 17,000 facilities, according to CNN.
South Korea has a huge market for dog meat and a large percentage of the dog meat comes from the Taepyeong-dong slaughterhouse.
Animal rights activists have been fighting for the closure of this illegally-built slaughterhouse for years.
‘Biggest slaughterhouse’
Officials ordered its closure in 2013 but only now are they demolishing it. It’s made of six individual slaughterhouses, five of which will be demolished immediately. The site will be replaced with a community park.
“As Korea’s biggest, brutal, illegal dog slaughterhouse, Taepyeong-dong is notorious for supplying huge amounts of dog bodies to nearby Seongnam Moran traditional market,” activist Nara Kim added. “Its closure is an historical event, and hopefully may trigger the closure of other illegal dog slaughterhouses throughout the country.”
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