What happened to the dog meat fracas?

Here’s this week’s tip on Korean language and customs:

Q:
Only a few years ago controversy erupted about some Korean people’s preference for eating dog meat. I’m wondering what happened to the dog meat situation and whether there are still concerns over it.

Has the Korean government banned selling or eating dog meat? Have Koreans stopped eating?

A:
Eating dog meat ― especially at the height of summer ― has been a long-time tradition in Korea, and there are many restaurants that specialize in various dog meat dishes around the country.

Instead of using the popular term “bosingtang,” most restaurants employ euphemisms, calling the dish “sacheoltang,” which merely means “all-season soup” in Korean.

The younger generation largely views the practice as nothing more than an old tradition handed down from a by-gone era, and it’s mostly older men who eat dog meat. The issue is cyclically controversial and last came under scrutiny of the international media during the 2002 World Cup. French actress Bridgette Bardot drew attention to the practice and called to stop it. Conversely, trend-savvy Koreans pamper their pet dogs.