South Korea’s impending ban on the dog meat trade is set to take effect next year, as the country moves to phase out an industry that has supplied dogs for human consumption. Multiple reports describe how many dog meat farms are shutting down and that the transition is raising a recurring question: where do the dogs go when breeding and slaughter for the trade end? One account from Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, describes an abandoned canine slaughterhouse with animal remains and empty facilities, illustrating the industry’s apparent contraction. Other reporting notes that despite farm closures and government compensation measures for affected operators, official records show limited transfers of dogs to shelters and few documented adoptions. Animal welfare groups express concern that many dogs may have been killed before the new legal restrictions begin, while also pointing to the difficulties of tracking animals once farms close. Overall, sources agree that the fate of large numbers of dogs bred for the trade is not fully explained in available public records, highlighting gaps in oversight and the challenge of ensuring humane outcomes during the phase-out period.