South Korean dog meat farmers push back as politicians push to eliminate the industry

The canines bark and stare as Kim Jong-kil approaches the rusty cages housing the big, short-haired animals he sells for his or her meat. Kim opens a door and pets one canine’s neck and chest.

Kim says he’s pleased with the canine meat farm that has supported his household for 27 years, however is upset over rising makes an attempt by politicians and activists to outlaw the enterprise, which he’s turning over to his kids.

“It’s extra than simply feeling unhealthy. I completely oppose these strikes, and we’ll mobilize all our means to withstand it,” Kim, 57, mentioned in an interview at his farm in Pyeongtaek metropolis, simply south of Seoul.

Canine meat consumption is a centuries-old follow on the Korean Peninsula and has lengthy been seen as a supply of stamina on sizzling summer time days. It is neither explicitly banned nor legalized in South Korea, however increasingly folks need it prohibited. There’s rising public consciousness of animal rights and worries about South Korea’s worldwide picture.

SOUTH KOREANS FACE HEAT WAVE BY DINING ON DOG MEAT

The anti-dog meat marketing campaign lately obtained an enormous increase when the nation’s first woman expressed her help for a ban and two lawmakers submitted payments to get rid of the canine meat commerce.

“Foreigners suppose South Korea is a cultural powerhouse. However the extra Okay-culture will increase its worldwide standing, the larger shock foreigners expertise over our canine meat consumption,” mentioned Han Jeoungae, an opposition lawmaker who submitted laws to outlaw the canine meat business final month.

Prospects for passage of an anti-dog meat legislation are unclear due to protests by farmers, restaurant homeowners and others concerned within the canine meat business. Surveys recommend that one in three South Koreans opposes such a ban, although most individuals don’t eat canine meat anymore.

Canines are additionally eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, North Korea and a few African international locations, together with Ghana, Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria.

Canines are seen in a cage at a canine farm in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on June 27, 2023. (AP Picture/Ahn Younger-joon)

Earlier this month, Indonesian authorities introduced the top of canine and cat slaughter at an animal market on the island of Sulawesi following a yearslong marketing campaign by native activists and world celebrities. The Tomohon Excessive Market will develop into the primary such market in Indonesia to go canine and cat meat-free, in response to the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society Worldwide.

South Korea’s canine meat business receives extra worldwide consideration due to its repute as a rich, ultra-modern democracy. Additionally it is the one nation with industrial-scale farms. Most farms in South Korea have greater than 500 canines, in response to a canine farmers’ affiliation.

COUNTRIES THAT EAT DOG

Throughout a latest go to, Kim’s farm, one of many nation’s largest with 7,000 canines, appeared comparatively clear however there was a powerful stench in some areas. All canines are saved in elevated cages and are fed with meals waste and floor rooster. They’re hardly ever launched for train and sometimes are bought for meat one 12 months after they’re born.

Kim mentioned two of his kids, age 29 and 31, are operating the farm with him, and that enterprise has been going fairly effectively. He mentioned the canines bred for his or her meat are totally different from pets, an thought opposed by activists.

It is tough now to search out canine meat eating places in Seoul’s bustling downtown, although many nonetheless exit within the countryside.

“I solely earn one-third of the money I used to make. Younger folks don’t come right here. Solely ailing outdated folks come for lunch,” mentioned Yoon Chu-wol, 77, the proprietor of a canine meat restaurant in Seoul’s Kyungdong conventional market. “I inform my aged clients to come back and eat my meals extra continuously earlier than it’s banned.”

Farmers additionally face rising scrutiny from officers and more and more unfavourable public opinion. They complain that officers go to them repeatedly in response to complaints filed by activists and residents over alleged animal abuse and different wrongdoing. Kim mentioned greater than 90 such petitions have been filed towards his farm throughout a latest four-month span.

Son Gained Hak, common secretary of the canine farmers’ affiliation, mentioned many farms have collapsed in recent times due to falling canine meat costs and weaker demand. He thinks that is a results of activist campaigns and unfair media stories specializing in farms with inferior circumstances. Some observers, nonetheless, say consumption of canine meat was already declining, with youthful folks staying away from it.

“Fairly truthfully, I might prefer to give up my job (as a farmer) tomorrow. We are able to’t confidently inform our youngsters that we’re elevating canines,” Son mentioned. “When my associates known as me, they mentioned ‘Hey, are you continue to operating a canine meat farm? Isn’t it unlawful?’”

The variety of farms throughout South Korea has dropped by half from a number of years in the past to about 3,000 to 4,000, and about 700,000 to 1 million canines are slaughtered annually, a decline from a number of million 10 to twenty years in the past, in response to the canine farmers’ affiliation. Some activists argue that the farmers’ estimates are an exaggeration meant to point out their business is simply too massive to destroy.

In late 2021, South Korea launched a government-civilian activity pressure to contemplate outlawing canine meat on the suggestion of then-President Moon Jae-in, a pet lover. The committee, whose members embrace farmers and animal rights activists, has met greater than 20 occasions however hasn’t reached any settlement, apparently due to disputes over compensation points.

Agriculture officers refused to reveal the discussions within the closed-door conferences. They mentioned the federal government desires to finish canine meat consumption based mostly on a public consensus.

In April, first woman Kim Keon Hee, the spouse of present President Yoon Suk Yeol, mentioned in a gathering with activists that she hopes for an finish to canine meat consumption. Famers responded with rallies and formal complaints towards Kim for allegedly hurting their livelihoods.

Han, the lawmaker, mentioned she “extremely positively appraises” influential figures talking out towards canine meat consumption.

Han mentioned her invoice presents help packages for farmers who agree to shut their farms. They might be entitled to cash to dismantle their services, vocational coaching, employment help and different advantages, she mentioned.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Ju Yeongbong, an official of the farmers’ affiliation, mentioned farmers need to proceed for about 20 extra years till older folks, their fundamental clients, die, permitting the business to naturally disappear. Observers say most farmers are additionally of their 60s to 70s.

Borami Web optimization, a director of the South Korea office of the Humane Society Worldwide, mentioned she opposes the continued killing of tens of millions of canines for such a chronic interval. “Letting this silent cruelty to (canines) be dedicated in South Korea doesn’t make sense,” Web optimization mentioned.

“(Canine meat consumption) is simply too anachronistic, has parts of cruelty to animals and hinders our nationwide development,” mentioned Cheon JinKyung, head of Korea Animal Rights Advocates in Seoul.