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Dog
Meat Festival, October 3, 2003
On
October 3, 2003, we made our way to a little town called Seocheon,
on the west coast of South Korea. We drove through the rolling
hills, picturesque creeks and fields of flowers. But the beauty
of South Korea's countryside belies the carnage that goes on in
its hills, behind fenced properties, under the brightly shining
sun of early fall.
The
fact that Koreans eat dog is not such a large issue as the ways
in which dogs are treated and regarded. That is the real problem.
Dogs can be heard barking, breaking the serenity of the woods.
Dogs crying, howling and whimpering is a heart-wrenching but common
sound heard in these parts. In fact, it can be heard all over
South Korea.
As
we approached our final destination, we could hear the barking
of a hundred dogs in a nearby dog farm. We could not see them.
The barking rose from the woods, almost as if the ghosts of slaughtered
came back to haunt the serene countryside of the Korean people.
We came to a large parking lot, just across the street from the
dog farm and could hear the jubilation of the Dog Meat Festival
going on. An announcer was gleefully encouraging a group of young
people to sing their hearts out. Old men sat off to the side,
drinking and remembering old times. The women buzzed around, cooking,
selling farming produce and talking excitedly. Everything seemed
eerily normal, yet there were indicators that things were not
normal, and not OK.
A
group of young anti-dog meat protesters were there, filming and
photographing everything in site. Police were everywhere, some
in uniform, most were not. Officials in black suits stood around
nervously, eyes darting everywhere, watching everyone and everything.
Tables were set up, selling dog meat posters, dog recipes, dog
wine, dog cooking books, dog oil, and of course, actual dog meat.
As
we drew nearer to the events, all attention shifted to us. Everyone
smiled and laughed uncomfortably, talking about the "foreign invasion."
The MC tried to "bribe" us with a box of kim (dried, salted seaweed
sheets, common with many Korean meals) to keep the peace. They
had no idea what we were about to do, and as they had seen on
TV, foreigners can get quite radical at protesting.
We
wasted no time and spread out to begin photographing. People approached
us wondering what we were doing there. "Many foreigners are curious
about this aspect of Korea and need an explanation," we explained.
We talked to one dog meat lover and asked him what he thought.
"I eat dog meat because it is delicious. I am not ashamed. I don't
understand why there is so much fuss about eating dog. It is part
of our culture." His pile of white dog bones, with some meat still
clinging to the bones, said it all. "Last night, someone threw
huge rocks onto this tent and destroyed it. The owners spent a
good part of the morning cleaning the mess and fixing the tents.
We don't know who did it."
Our
team had a good idea who it was: animal lovers. Each year, tens
of thousands of dogs are slaughtered in such cruel and inhumane
ways, it sickens even many Koreans. Blow torching alive, hangings
over bridges by their necks, storages in cramped and disgusting
cages, and beatings, are some of the ways these dogs die. The
more painful, the better many believe; it adds to the quality
of the meat.
Many
Koreans eat dogs for increased virility and stamina. Originally,
Koreans ate dog because there was a meat shortage. Not really
anything cultural, but more out of necessity. But now, with food
plentiful everywhere, many Korean animal rights groups are calling
for a ban on this practice. They pressure legislators, write letters,
protest, publish, break into dog farms and snap photos. But still,
the practice goes on, and the Korean government refuses to halt
the practice, despite both national and international pressure.
As
we left that little town, with its nice people and friendly hospitality,
we still could not help but feel sad and horrified at what we
saw and experienced. We felt it was not only our duty to stop
it, but to expose it. Maybe if we expose it, enough pressure on
the Koreans who torture dogs and the legislators who support it
will make them see the dogs as we do; lovable, loyal creatures
who deserve more than a short life and a cruel and painful death.
Here
are resources that you can use to put in your two cents and learn
more about the dog meat industry.
Dog
Farm - An expose of a dog farm, taken in 2002.
Dog Brutality - Protest against bad conditions for dogs
Korea
Animal Protection Society
Sign
a petition
Anti-Dog
meat Movement Headquarters
- Dog meat farms in Korea and other counties. Heartbreaking and
sickening photos of dogs being painfully slaughtered. Detailed
documentation of how dogs are treated before dying.
Seoul
Searching Dog eating forum - discuss what you have seen
on this page and how you feel about it.
News
from South Korea
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