in 2008, the seoul metropolitan government proposed a recommendation to the national government to add dogs to the list of livestock whose slaughter is regulated by law. however, activist groups attacked the proposal as legitimizing or legalizing the trade in dog meat. the city dropped the proposal, but an official from the national government was quoted as saying “it’s the sole idea of the city. we have not been consulted at all ... i don’t think we are planning to even consider this option.”