EBS 1TV to air four-part special on dogs in crisis

EBS 1TV will broadcast a four-part special titled "Dogs in Crisis" starting November 7, 2026, to examine animal cruelty and abandonment ahead of the February 2027 ban on dog meat consumption. The series investigates illegal slaughter, the impact of the new Animal Protection Act, and the survival of abandoned dogs on highways and in Bukhansan.

“Disappearing, wounded, and abandoned dogs. Yet, the stories of children who still wag their tails.”

The EBS special "Dogs in Crisis" (4 parts) will make its first broadcast on EBS 1TV on Saturday, November 7, at 10:00 PM. This special series aims to shed light on the suspicious movements occurring ahead of the implementation of the Dog Meat Consumption Ban Act, scenes of brutal animal cruelty, and abandoned dogs driven to death on highways and Bukhansan, while addressing the issues our society must contemplate regarding dogs in crisis near our daily lives.

On February 7, 2027, the breeding, slaughter, and distribution of dogs for consumption will be entirely prohibited. According to government statistics, the closure rate of dog farms is currently approximately 80%. However, the question remains: where did all those dogs go? On October 1, 2026, an amendment to the Animal Protection Act, which includes preventing recidivism in animal abuse and strengthening punishments, passed the plenary session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Despite the era of "15 million pet owners," abuse and abandonment continue to repeat in front of our eyes or in unseen dark corners. Puppies are no longer just "animals to raise" but are family. "Disappearing dogs, wounded dogs, and abandoned dogs"—these were lives that were once someone's family or could have been. Through this four-part special, EBS "Dogs in Crisis" records the current state of dogs in crisis.

Part 1, "Dog Meat Consumption Ban Act D-90: Disappearing Dogs, Leftover Dogs" (broadcast November 7), examines suspicious movements occurring as the grace period nears its end in just three months, such as yard dogs that were once cared for disappearing one by one. The production team investigates the reality of dog meat auction sites in remote mountain areas and tracks how rising prices due to the difficulty of distributing dog meat are actually encouraging illegal slaughter. The episode explores the reality not revealed by closure statistics—illegal transactions and slaughter continuing in the shadows—while tracing the whereabouts of missing dogs and addressing tasks to be solved alongside those who barely survived.

Part 2, "Yet They Wag Their Tails, Dogs Who Survived Hell" (broadcast November 14), focuses on the new "Animal Keeping Prohibition Order System" included in the Animal Protection Act amendment passed by the National Assembly in October, which aims to prevent repeat offenders from keeping animals for a certain period. To ensure this system works properly, the episode travels to scenes of brutal cruelty with animal protection activists. It features the stories of survivors: "Jinnyeo," whose mouth was torn to make her look like the "Joker" from a movie; "Minki," who had a large nail driven into her head; and "Luca," who suffered paralysis in her lower body after being beaten with a blunt object and being involved in a traffic accident. The episode captures the face of cruelty at the front lines of rescue operations and conveys the voices of animal protection activists.

Part 3, "Highways, Service Areas, Rest Areas... Abandoned Dogs Driven to Death on the Road" (broadcast November 21), highlights the abandonment on roads that repeats every holiday and vacation season. Abandoning dogs on the road is the most cruel form of abandonment, as they are exposed to the risk of traffic accidents and roadkill at any time. In Jeju Island, in particular, there are continuous instances of people abandoning pet dogs on the road during trips. The episode illuminates the dangers and cruel reality faced by dogs that were once someone's family, from dogs that stay in one spot on the road for nearly a year and run toward vehicles to service areas where abandoned dogs are frequently found.

Part 4, "Autumn Foliage, the Cruel Face of Autumn Mountains" (broadcast November 28), looks at abandoned dogs struggling for survival among hikers enjoying the autumn scenery at Bukhansan. Dogs traveling in packs are often mistaken for threats by humans, becoming targets for complaints and capture; if they cannot meet their families after being captured, they face the risk of euthanasia. The episode captures the scene of "animal-friendly intensive rescue," a new method to break the cycle of repeated tragedies. This method involves capturing dogs without tranquilizer guns and preventing population increases by monitoring adult dogs with identification tags after neutering, while promoting adoption for puppies through socialization training. The episode follows the capture operations conducted with tension, including the "Muryangsa Group" traveling with puppies, the "Mureungdowon Group" living in valleys, and "Baeksuni," who has undergone repeated births, to find a path for coexistence with dogs in crisis.

The EBS "Dogs in Crisis" special will be broadcast every Saturday at 10:00 PM on EBS 1TV for four weeks from November 7, 2026, to November 28, 2026, and can be rewatched on the EBS website.

Read the original (Korean)