Unlike South Korea, which recently passed legislation banning dog meat sales from 2027, North Korea is turning heads by promoting dog meat as a revitalizing dish during the sweltering summer heat.
The July issue of Geumsugansan, North Korea’s monthly propaganda magazine, boasted about customers flocking to Munheung Dog Meat House in Pyongyang’s Taedong River district. The restaurant is touted as a go-to spot for sampling dog meat, a prized dish during the hottest days of summer.
While the capital boasts numerous dog meat eateries, this particular spot has garnered a loyal following due to its unique flair. The magazine highlighted the restaurant’s popularity by mentioning the dozens of awards adorning its spacious dining room walls, all of which were earned in recent culinary competitions.
Korean Central Television (KCTV) also reported on a Pyongyang Dog Meat Cooking Competition held at Hwasonggak, the swankiest restaurant in Pyongyang’s trendy Hwasong district, which opened in 2023. This event underscores just how much North Koreans are savoring dog meat as a delicacy.
Jang Young-mi, deputy member of the Pyongyang City People’s Committee, dished that over 200 chefs from 63 social catering and food procurement units participated – double last year’s turnout. Judges evaluated how well contestants simmered the dog meat soup and whether they achieved the perfect texture—both heavy and tender —in their dishes.
Jang gushed that the event was a fantastic opportunity to elevate dog meat cuisine and share culinary tricks among chefs. This suggests that North Korea plans to continue promoting dog meat dishes and developing new recipes with official backing.
The dog meat cooking craze isn’t limited to Pyongyang. South Pyongan Province hosted its own competition at Jangsu-gak in Pyongsong City. KCTV raved about how chefs from Pyongsong, Chungsan, Ryongwon, and Songcheon counties served up dishes that wowed judges with their authentic doggy flavor and appearance. North Korea’s obsession with dog meat is no secret. Both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the country’s former supreme leaders, were total dog meat enthusiasts. Kim Il Sung himself coined the term “dangogi,” which translates to “sweet meat.” It’s a classic North Korean move to follow the supreme leader’s tastes, even without explicit orders, which explains why dog meat has become such a nationwide phenomenon.
Experts say dogs are a go-to protein source in North Korea because they’re cheap to raise, along with rabbits. The country even registered Kyongsong County’s dog meat soup as an intangible cultural heritage in 2022.
Meanwhile, South Korea is putting dog meat in the doghouse. Last January, the National Assembly passed the Dog Meat Ban Law, which will outlaw the breeding, slaughtering, distribution, and sale of dogs for food starting February 7, 2027.
