The president made the statement on Monday while receiving a report from the prime minister on the Government’s plan to improve the care system for abandoned pets, Yonhap news agency reported.

A growing number of South Koreans have adopted dogs living in their homes as pets, but there are still operating dog farms, where some breeds are raised for human consumption.

President Moon is known to be a dog lover and has several dogs in the presidential compound.

South Korea has an Animal Protection Act that is mainly aimed at preventing the cruel killing of animals deemed domestic, but not the consumption of dog meat, one of the traditional dishes of the cuisine in Northeast Asian countries.

Meanwhile, civic groups were divided over the president’s latest comments, which sparked another round of debate on one of the most controversial issues in South Korea.

Welcoming Moon’s statement, Jeon Jin Kyung, leader of the country’s Animal Rights Advocates, said a growing number of South Koreans are viewing the consumption of dog meat as a matter of animal abuse rather than tradition.

Meanwhile, defenders of the habit said people should also be free to choose what they eat.

ef/omr/rgh/gfa/gdc