The recent ban on the dog meat trade in South Korea marks a monumental victory for animal welfare and a turning point in history. In this exclusive Monaco Life interview, Chris DeRose, Founder and President of Last Chance for Animals (LCA), shares his unique perspective on the relentless advocacy and hard work that helped bring an end to this cruel and outdated practice.
With the closure of 1,100 slaughterhouses across South Korea, this victory will save up to two million dogs each year, setting a hopeful precedent for other nations to follow. After more than a decade of effort, the timing was finally right, reflecting shifting societal values, especially among the younger generation, who are increasingly concerned about animal welfare. While dog meat has a long history in South Korea, the rise in pet ownership and changing attitudes have made it a subject of growing controversy. In 2023, lawmakers introduced a bill to officially ban the breeding and slaughter of dogs for consumption, which passed in early 2024.
LCA and its fully funded sister organisation, Animal Liberation Wave (ALW), played a key role in winning government support and were instrumental in passing the legislation. They spearheaded global protests, including the largest demonstrations against the dog meat trade, with support from numerous celebrities like Kim Basinger, Priscilla Presley, and Clint Eastwood. These high-profile efforts helped keep the cause in the spotlight, both in South Korea and internationally.
Sitting with Chris at a cozy Italian restaurant in Hollywood, it’s clear how deeply rooted his passion for animal rights is. Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, Chris speaks with a distinct East Coast accent and carries with him the strength and integrity instilled in him by his mother. Inspired by her teachings to stand against oppression, Chris has spent his life fighting for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Over 40 years ago, he founded LCA, dedicating his life to raising awareness about the inhumane treatment of animals for human consumption. Remarkably, just a few years ago, many Americans were still unaware of the dog meat trade in Asia—a reality Chris has worked tirelessly to change.
Monaco Life: When did you start the ‘Stop Dog Meat’ campaign?
Chris DeRose: We were heavily involved in the Stop Dog Meat campaign in China starting in 2010, which lasted for about four years. Eventually, we decided to shift our focus and move our efforts to South Korea, where I believed we had a better chance of ending the dog meat trade sooner.
After two years of working there, we initiated the Animal Liberation Wave (ALW) with all Korean advocates, rather than an outside organisation imposing Western ways.
While working with ALW, we managed to get some great investigations going which prompted some positivity.
We generated a lot of media attention because of our actions. We were using laser lights to project messages onto the Blue House, which is like their version of the White House, and that got us all kinds of press. We even dropped a 500-foot banner from a high-rise; everything had meaning. We made sure the issue always stayed in front of their parliament.
It felt like every day there was something new happening. We kept the momentum going, with newspapers and news media consistently covering our efforts and simultaneously conducting undercover investigations, something no one else in South Korea was doing.
I love how LCA has garnered so much local support and is focused on real action, not just social media posts, tears, and talk. As you always say, “That alone does no justice for the animals”…
Absolutely, and the local support was strong, especially among the younger generation. But it wasn’t just the young people; the older generation was also on board to stop the dog meat trade. It’s been around for hundreds of years and we put an end to it! In South Korea, I made a promise to those dogs that we would stop it, and I kept my promise.
But it’s not just me, it was Animal Liberation Wave, and its President and Founder Jiyen Lee. She’s a one-person warrior; she’s sharp, smart, and courageous and we backed her 150% – her advice, financially and in any way we could through our donations. Now, we’re going to stay on top of it to make sure it’s enforced
What did you expose with your investigations?
We documented the entire process, from dogs being raised in puppy mills to being butchered after about a year, or a year-and-a-half. They were killed in horrible ways because the people believed that if the animal suffered while still alive, it would release a hormone that provided health benefits.
How many other animal welfare organisations were working with you in South Korea?
Primarily, it was LCA and ALW but there were two other welfare groups: Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA) and the Korean Animal Rights Association (KARA). They had been working on it a long time but it didn’t go anywhere until we came along and did the investigations, which gave them the power – and everyone else the power – to get this ban into motion.
During your multiple visits to South Korea, you were joined by your longtime friend, the actress Kim Basinger, and ALW in protest. Were you also involved in rescuing animals and relocating them to the United States?
Yes, LCA brought some dogs to the United States and to Los Angeles. This wasn’t our main focus but a part of our mission to keep the issue in the media and spotlight and to help expose the act of civil disobedience. Bringing the rescued dogs to Los Angeles was a reminder that these dogs are real, with faces, names, and unique personalities. They have all the traits we love about animals, which is why we brought them here and found them loving homes.
What positive message does this send to the world about not eating man’s best friend?
That’s a very good question. It makes a major difference in giving animals their rights, especially dogs.
We were invited to parliament where the bill was unanimously passed, with the South Korean government completely opposing the dog meat trade. This year at our gala, we will honour the international politicians who introduced the bill based on LCA investigations.
Ultimately, we hope this will set a precedent for other countries to do the same and we hope this will be the beginning of a ban on dog meat worldwide.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I reiterate that we should not point a finger at other cultures when we are doing the same thing with our animals. We have prioritised and categorised animals as food, pets, companions, work animals, etc. But we should look at all of them as living sentient beings.
For more information, visit https://stopdogmeat.com/ .To donate, click here.
See also:
Interview: Chris DeRose, from TV star to animal rights crusader
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