South Korea Dog Meat Festival Cancelled After Animal Rights Protests

Dog may be a staple ingredient in various Asian cuisines, but that wasn't enough to silence South Korean animal rights activists, whose repeated protests lead to the cancellation of a Seongnam festival focused on promoting canine meat's consumption.

As the AFP is reporting, the festival -- planned to “showcase canine food products, including barbecued dog, sausages and steamed paws” and to be held in a traditional open-air market -- quickly stirred fury from South Korean animal advocates and many Internet users, who conducted several online campaigns to force the event's cancellation. "This is making our country an international laughing stock, and making the whole world mistakenly believe that all South Koreans eat dogs," Park So-Youn, head of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth, is quoted as saying.

The continued protests eventually led to a lack of appropriate space for the event. "We couldn't possibly go on with the plan due to endless phone calls of complaint...now there are few willing to rent us a place for the event," Ann Yong-Geun, an adviser to Korea Dog Farmers' Association and a professor of nutrition at Chung Cheong University, told AFP.

Though the event has already garnered international headlines, just how popular dog meat truly is throughout South Korea remains a matter of debate. As the Wall Street Journal notes, dog meat soup, for example, "is not as popular as most news stories make it seem. A minority of people eat it regularly. It’s consumed most frequently in summer but is available year-round. And it’s more popular with men than women and is said to possess qualities that “help stamina.”

Of course, for those who do enjoy their dog meat, the South Korean event's cancellation seems unlikely to have lasting implications. As the Daily Mail reports, a similar, week-long festival kicked off without a hitch in China. "It is just like other meat," one local explained. "Smaller animals tend to be more delicate and sweeter while very big dogs have a strong, muscular taste."

Comments

[skyjon]

04:54 PM on 08/19/2011

Culture is never an excuse for cruelty. Dogs are NOT livestock. The people who condone this or see no wrong in this barbaric cruelty to man's best friend are frankly lacking all human compassion and decency. A dog can help the blind, deaf and disabled. Rescue people from earthquakes, sniff out drugs at customs, find people in avalanches and most importantly give you unconditional love. These attributes are unique to dogs and what a disgusting and unforgiveable way to betray their trust in humans by slaughtering and torturing them so some cruel fat gutted human can satisfy their taste buds.
God bless those people in Korea for standing up against this cruelty and saving some of them.
I hope they gain more strength and support day by day..

[Vicky Konayuki]

11:50 AM on 07/14/2011

This is great news to see people in South Korea saving animals. Every animal has the right to live, and not be born to die just for us. Meat is not needed to survive.
I'm little by little eating less animals (for the past 5 years till today I'm only eating chicken and fish). My blood tests are good and soon I'll be saying bye to chicken and fish.
It's not so difficult; it's just a change in our lifestyle.
I do this as a protest to today's intensive and horrible farming methods, not cause I don't like eating meat.
We should take example and do this for all farming animals.

[OnTheOtherSideOfEarth]

06:48 AM on 07/02/2011

While Americans pointing fingers at others, where are those beef, chicken, pork come from? Gifts from God? Google "food Inc. " and you can see how hypocritic those westerners are.

[theveggiedude]

03:27 AM on 07/03/2011

I agree, it is hypocritical. We allow cows and pigs to be used as meat and I see no need to stop dog meat - dogs are no more special.

[sullamander]

04:26 AM on 07/01/2011

"Dog may be a staple ingredient in various Asian cuisines,"
________________________________________________________________

Dog is not a 'staple ingredient' in any Korean food. The definition of a 'staple food' is any food that is "eaten regularly and in such quantities as to constitute the dominant part of the diet and supply a major proportion of energy and nutrient needs," according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

By using this word incorrectly you are misleading people to believe that dog is as common in Korean cuisine as rice or corn might be, and this is simply not true. Also it is not only animal rights activists that oppose eating dog meat. Many people in Korea have dogs as pets and abhor the practice. As the article mentions, a minority of Koreans have ever tried dog meat, and even a smaller fragment eat dog on a regular basis, so please change the wording to reflect that.

[KirstinMAC]

12:05 AM on 06/30/2011

I find it appalling when any culture elects to slaughter in a cruel fashion and eat the meat of an intelligent, loyal, emotionally complex animals. Dogs are such animals in addition to being man's best friend. In modern times such as these and with the exceptional variety of nutritious choices we have available this "tradition" needs to go. There is a huge sect of the Korean population that is incredibly ashamed of the dog eaters. It is as disagreeable within Korea as it is here and is a source of divide. Time to get with the times, Korea.

[Nick Kuiper]

04:44 PM on 06/30/2011

What about us? I'm not entirely positive, but I'd estimate that the pigs on the farm revealed by MFA earlier this week (http://www.mercyforanimals.org/pigabuse/) are treated far worse than these dogs in Korea. Personally, I'm a little more concerned about the billions of animals in factory farms than the few people who eat dogs in Korea.

[KirstinMAC]

08:39 PM on 06/30/2011

The pig abuse is equally awful and it's not accepted by the general public. It's been a hidden and covert part of that industry and as it's being brought into public awareness, people are becoming very active about putting a swift stop to such cruelty. Two wrongs don't make a right. The dogs in Korea need our attention as do the pigs. One is not more deserving of kindness that the other. This cruelty is unacceptable in any case.

[theveggiedude]

03:35 AM on 07/03/2011

Get with the times?? We are no more different. We eat chickens, lambs, cows and pigs... it's a filthy human habit that affects USA as much as Korea. To elevate a dog over a pig is nothing more than being speciest.

[wegugin]

03:51 PM on 06/29/2011

I'm only translating the sign. This doesn't reflect my opinion or any prejudice against Koreans or their choice of cuisine.

[wegugin]

07:14 PM on 06/29/2011

Dear Moderator,
I would be interested in knowing why you have twice blocked my correct and in no way inappropriate translation of the Korean protestors sign.

[john649]

11:00 AM on 07/01/2011

i would actually like to know too.

[wegugin]

02:42 PM on 07/01/2011

Is the DPRK approving posts here?

[s002wjh]

02:24 PM on 06/29/2011

its ironic i just read a story about pig abuse in Iowa few mins ago on abcnews. people stop complain about what other culture eats. we do the same thing to pigs, cows, chickens, buffalos etc etc

[Nick Kuiper]

04:47 PM on 06/30/2011

Hear hear. People were appalled, by what Micahel Vick did, but often times could care less about cows or pigs or chickens. I guess some animals are guilty of being born "food" not "family". Punishable by death.

[john649]

11:01 AM on 07/01/2011

wrong. we should KEEP complaining about animal abuse no matter where it is.

[celebdrive]

02:08 PM on 06/29/2011

The problem is that the dogs and cats in Korea are purposely killed slowly, with their full knowledge in front of the next victims, to gain maximum adrenaline from the last minute terror the animal endures- far different than U.S. slaughterhouses which kill instantaneously. It is barbaric and indefensible - it is not a political or national issue - it is humanitarian.

[wegugin]

03:40 PM on 06/29/2011

Read this story of Iowa pig farm in US in today's news and watch the video.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/29/iowa-select-farms-mercy-for-animals-video_n_886743.html
I respect you, but you must know what you're talking about before making such blanket statements like this. And it is not ALWAYS a slow death in Korea. Just in case you're wondering, I'm American, not Korean. I lived in Korea for nearly a decade. I don't eat dog meat, but that is ONLY a personal preference. I eat meat, and the truth is that animals raised to be eaten are not afforded the same respect that pets generally receive. If we are going to jump on the band wagon condemning Koreans for eating dog meat, I think it behooves us to become vegetarians and support PETA. Otherwise, we are being hypocritical.

[sypin]

03:57 AM on 07/01/2011

Actually, their killed instantly with a blow from an electric rod on the head. The problem is dog meat has no legal status as food in Korea- so there is a lot of black market selling and producing- and some will use the 500yrs old method you have mentioned. Those people spend a long time in jail if their caught.

It's not common, or a standard in Korea

[KMBerger]

01:04 PM on 06/29/2011

Western cultural imperialism is at fault for interfering in S. Korea's perception about domesticated animal usage. This is wrong.

[LibertarianJon]

12:29 PM on 06/29/2011

I love my dog, but this is crap. They've been eating dog for centuries... This would be like Hindu Americans protesting outside of Ruths Chris, and them closing because of it.

[john649]

11:02 AM on 07/01/2011

total bs

[eastport111]

11:41 AM on 06/29/2011

Disgusting,people who eat dog meat are sick.

[LibertarianJon]

12:30 PM on 06/29/2011

Well, I think people who eat Tofu are sick...

[Practicality]

12:40 PM on 06/29/2011

Tofu is not as disgusting as cheese, which tastes like rear end.

[s002wjh]

02:31 PM on 06/29/2011

you just don't know how to eat tufu. asian think cheese are stink and has a weird taste to it. there are many ways to cook tufu, try someout in a decent chinese or japanese restaurant. its healthy diet compare to cheese.

[eastport111]

01:13 PM on 06/29/2011

Hi Libertarian Jon,
I agree with you,I wouldn't touch that stuff.

[matanzero]

11:18 AM on 06/29/2011

Why, when there is so much food to consume in the more economically advanced societies, should we even be talking about eating a dog? It is vulgar and I for one would warn the South Koreans, that should they continue their disgusting and atrocious behavior, we would start boycotting the many products that we import from them.

[adamben]

11:59 AM on 06/29/2011

what do we import from south korea?

also, i am sure the habit of eating dog was when they weren't an "advanced" country and the people needed the protein. look at north korea. i wouldn't blame the northerns from eating it and it seems like it is disappearing in the south.

[LibertarianJon]

12:31 PM on 06/29/2011

We must stop importing Kim Chee! lol

[matanzero]

03:09 PM on 06/30/2011

Hyundai's for one thing, among many others.
South Korea along with Japan are two of the richest Asian nations in the world principally because of their association with the US as well as Europe. They are an educated and economically advanced society, they don't need to eat DOG'S; just like those wanting to import Ivory from Africa resulting in the murdering of elephants, or the bile from rare Russian bears. It is an outdated and abusive custom and it has to STOP. By the way North Koreans don't have to eat dog's all they have to do is cross the border into South Korea or remove the leader of the oppressive regime in which they live, that keeps them eating not only dogs but RATS as well.

[LibertarianJon]

12:31 PM on 06/29/2011

Why should we tell them what they can and can't do??? They've been eating dog for longer than we've been a country! I'm sure India finds it repulsive that we eat steaks, but it's not their place to tell us what to do.

[matanzero]

02:59 PM on 06/30/2011

We have a right to tell them and they have an obligation to listen to us because every time No Korea hickups, South Korea calls the White House for help. Further, their existance is only because American GI's saved their buts from getting wiped out by China in the 1950's and anytime a "Tree Hugging Liberal" like you has the audacity to say that killing a dog for human consumption is ok, makes me more proud to be a BUSH-REAGAN-BACHMAN-PALIN CONSERVATIVE...you tweet!

[Lordmock]

10:32 AM on 06/29/2011

Dogs have been walking beside man since the first of recorded history, we are why doges even exist they all started out as gray wolves. The point is, it’s wrong to eat our friend on the other hand a cow is a cow it is pray, a big lump of walking, grazing, meat and skin. Dogs are a fellow predator and it goes farther than that they help us hunt, fight, they guard our living areas, and are company. Yes we are responsible for Teacup Chihuahuas which are next to useless but that just shows that the liberals have also been among us for a very long time as well.

[natal plum]

10:57 AM on 06/29/2011

And your point to this meandering rant is?

[rlkenney]

11:28 AM on 06/29/2011

What the hell does liberalism have to do with Asians eating dogs? You guys will blame us for anything. BTW, the reason westerners don't eat dogs is that we don't eat carnivores. At least western liberals don't. Usually.

[tksensei]

02:41 AM on 07/01/2011

"Westerners" do eat dog as well.

[IrieMoon]

10:17 AM on 06/29/2011

I understand that every culture has their own food ingredients that I may not like or want to eat. I grew up on a farm where we raised our own chickens, cows and pigs for our own consumption. I even befriended some of those animals and was heartbroken when my dad butchered them. However, I cannot understand the reason for inflicting unreasonable pain on these animals. There are humane ways of killing an animal in order to consume it and skinning an animal alive is not humane. If people want to eat dog then let them. But don't allow them to torture the animal first.

[Dub Sack]

09:45 AM on 06/29/2011

Nothing like proving a stereotype haha

[LibertarianJon]

12:33 PM on 06/29/2011

Stereotype??? What, that Koreans eat dog?? That's not a stereotype, it's a fact. They have been for years! Look up the definition of the word stereotype....

[Dub Sack]

12:41 PM on 06/29/2011

I mean the stereotype that Asians eat cat, dog, etc. And i didn't know it was a fact, I've never been over there to confirm it myself.

[s002wjh]

02:29 PM on 06/29/2011

not every korean, chinese, or other asian eat dogs. in fact dog meat ARE much rare compare to beef/pork. its like in US some people eat buffalo or alligator before. its not everyday food.