Dog meat has long been a part of South Korean cuisine. But consumption has declined as South Koreans increasingly embrace the idea of dogs as pets instead of livestock, with eating them now something of a taboo among younger generations.
The case came to light when a daughter of the family this week published an online plea calling for public support to ensure that the offender be punished sternly. A petition has so far gained almost 15,000 signatures.
"We had been all around the town, handing out leaflets containing the dog's picture, phone number and rewards of one million won (US$940), in order to find the missing dog", the daughter told AFP by phone, asking for her family's name to be kept anonymous.
"When I reached the man's house, which is just three doors down from ours, he expressed sympathy, promising to let us know if he found the dog".
At that time, however, the farmer was hiding the dog, either alive or dead, in his barn, she said.
The following day, the suspect visited her father, drank with him and consoled him over the missing dog.
"He even invited neighbours to come share the dog meat, including my father who did not accept the invitation as he is a non-dog meat eater", she said.
As many as one million dogs are still consumed in South Korea each year, with the greasy red meat - which is invariably boiled for tenderness - believed to increase energy.
Activists have stepped up campaigns to ban dog consumption. Under a newly strengthened law, animal abusers face up to two years in prison or 20 million won (US$18,700) in fines.
