Edited by George and Irene mandel of Animal Intelligience News and Media (South Africa) TRADITION ALWAYS TRADITION SEOUL, South Korea. The animal faces of dog-and-cat-eating, met at the Moran market just outside the capital city of Seoul, South Korea, are as pained and haunting as any animal defender might imagine. The silence of the dehydrated and despairing animals is an unexpected part of the shock. Most of the dogs can bark. They just rarely do. Only scattered pure-bred former pets and a puppy trying to gnaw the dangling end of a nylon cord show hope that anything could be different. Stunned cats exhibit bleeding wounds from apparent hammer blows to the forehead. Roosters thrust their necks between the bars of their overcrowded cages and instead of crowing, gasp for breath. The squalor of the Moran market degenerates in four short blocks from approximately the conditions of an abusive old-fashioned dog pound, at the end of the market closest to the major cross-street, to the worst depths of negligence displayed by certifiably deranged animal hoarders. There among cats piled three or four deep, the living among the dead in all-fours-up rigor mortis; beside a cat in extremis from heat, dehydration, and probable disease but still trying to comfort her kittens; amid the stench of rabbits being gutted after jumper-cable electrocution or a whack on the head; chickens glued inside cages by their own heaped guano; fish belly-up in buckets of virtual cess; flayed dog carcasses atop cramped cages of live dogs; and the steam from pots of cats who may have been boiled alive, ANIMAL PEOPLE publisher Kim Bartlett began to weep. As she did, she caught a fleeting look of sympathy from one woman whose appalling display she had photographed. The photo revealed a portrait of shame. Partially hidden behind a pipe supporting an awning that did not begin to conceal anything, or keep the sun out, the woman endured the photo with closed eyes, bent head, hair falling across over her face, and arms crossed defensively in front of her, as if expecting a blow. "Dog butchers are considered lower than prostitutes in Korean culture," explained Kyenan Kum. "A parent would not want his son or daughter to enter this business." However, once trapped in it by birth or marriage, Kum continued, a person might feel unable to escape. "Korea," Kum said, "as a patriarchal society, dictates that a woman should serve her husband, even if this means working at a job that makes her ashamed. It is almost unfathomable to think that this woman would dare consider switching sides and betraying her family honour," despite whatever feelings she might have for animals who may have been kept as quasi-pets until old enough to sell for meat. There were brazen, hostile, bewildered, curious, and indifferent faces among the Moran market vendors, too. Mostly, however, there were faces turned away, whenever the notorious dog-and-at-market bullyboys tried to disrupt the two hours of photography and looked toward bystanders for support. The ANIMAL PEOPLE/North Shore team were both conspicuous and outnumbered among the native Koreans, hundreds to one. Yet, the dog-and-cat-meat thugs found no obvious friends among the vegetable, hardware, and clothing vendors whose stands fill most of the marketplace. Even people who may have come to buy dogs or cats for dinner were reluctant to reveal themselves. Suspected would-be customers shuffled past slowly, repeatedly, with eyes averted. Hardly anyone seemed to be buying--at least not while aware that we were looking.   SOUTH KOREAN LAWMAKERS SEEK TO LEGALISE DOG MEAT SALES A group of legislators in South Korea say they're planning to push through laws to legalise the sale of dog meat ahead of next year's soccer World Cup. It's still unclear whether the bill would pass the 273-member National Assembly. A similar bill was scuttled in 1999, with many legislators saying it would give the country a bad international image. About 3 million of South Korea's 47 million people are believed to eat dog meat as a delicacy, but there is currently no law either banning or legalising its sale. The group said it was pushing the bill again after the custom drew renewed criticism from international animal rights activists, including French actress Brigitte Bardot. Many Koreans took the criticism as a slight to their national pride. South Koreans slaughter only meat dogs for eating, not pet dogs. Kim Hong-shin, an opposition legislator, said a lack of regulation of dog meat sales allows butchers to kill dogs in inhumane ways, and distribute meat under unhygienic conditions, giving fuel to the animal rights argument. Kim, who sponsored the 1999 bill, has drawn a new bill, which is endorsed by 20 legislators, enough to officially introduce the bill in the National Assembly. Concerned about its image, the government banned dog meat during the 1988 Seoul Olympics by invoking a law that prohibits the sale of "foods deemed unsightly." After the Olympics, the ban was not strictly enforced. Dog meat is also eaten in some other Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos. It must be clear by now that, far from listening to western opinion, South Korea's stance is not one merely of ignoring it, but of flouting it in a way that seems arrogant beyond belief! Many campaigning to end the torture of dogs and cats within that country have in the past taken the opinion that reasoned discussion was preferable to sanctions, considering that a boycott of Korean trade would have the negative effect of making them more resistant to outside opinion. This belief is rapidly being proven a false hope. Not content with trying to claim that the dog and cat meat markets are "marginal", South Korea is now trying to legalise them! We are of the opinion that there can only be one response to this move, and call upon Animal Welfare organisations world-wide to join us in an immediate boycott of all produce from South Korea, along with tourism within that country. If we are guilty of the "cultural imperialism" that they accuse us of, they will presumably not want our imperialist currency. Article Courtesy of ANIMAL PEOPLE KOREA'S "DR DOGMEAT" DEFENDS CUSTOM AND ANIMAL ACT REPLIES WITHIN CONTEXT OF ARTICLE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SOUTH KOREA: January 28, 2002 SEOUL - South Korea's "Dr Dogmeat", a nutritionist who boasts scores of dog recipes, says that animal lovers at home and abroad who criticise Korean canine cuisine are barking up the wrong tree. Nutrition science professor Ann Yong-keun told Reuters, Koreans should not shy away from critics of dogmeat but should aggressively market the meat of man's best friend at events like the May 31 to June 30 World Cup finals. ANIMAL ACT It seems that despite a world-wide outcry regarding this practice, Ann Yong-keun proposes to market it to the very same tourist visitors in South Korea for the 2002 Soccer World Cup who find this practice disgusting. Will any of us be safe in the knowledge that when we eat in a restaurant we will not be fed dog meat as a marketing response from Dr Dogmeat and his seemingly many followers. Would we take a chance, we think not. "Dogmeat-eating is not a subject for criticism. People should understand other people can have different cultures," said Ann, the author of a book on Korea's dogmeat culture who has spearheaded a drive to defend the custom. ANIMAL ACT Dear 'Doctor' eating of human flesh was tradition to many Cannibal Tribes in the Amazon forest and Pacific Islands. Are you advocating that we should respect this culture and allow these tribes to begin farming, brutalising and slaughtering humans in the name of tradition. All to often we cry "Tradition" in the face of our outdated and barbaric cultures and the use of this justification is wearing thin. Besides, as you are well aware, prior to 1980 only low life sexually frustrated men, ate dog meat to bolster their sexual prowess. Are you suggesting that the government legalise and support this practice and lift the Nations 'status' to that of back street sexually frustrated low life. WHY DOGS? WHY ONLY KOREA? Dogs are specially bred in South Korea to be eaten, notably in "poshintang", literally "body preservation stew," which advocates say is good for health and is considered a delicacy by some. Only 16 per cent of dogs in South Korea are bred as pets. ANIMAL ACT If one wishes to fit into the greater world of; trade, sport and cultural activities, one should make a serious effort to accommodate the sensitivities of those with which one wishes to associate. In South Africa as well as most western countries South Korean companies trade and expect us to deal with them. Are you advocating that we find your culture acceptable and we trade with a country that is prepared to legalise not only the eating but the obvious cruel methods of slaughter inflicted on cats and dogs. Ann, 49, said the howls of critics hurt Korea's "national pride". He faulted Koreans who caved in to dogmeat opponents, as in during the 1988 Olympics, when poshintang restaurants near major roads closed to avoid controversy. ANIMAL ACT National Pride based on cruelty and eating of other carnivore species, is not, in the West some thing to be proud of and it seems that at that point your Government felt the same. "Animal rights activists should fight for species on the verge of extinction," Ann said. "Why should they make a fuss about dogs which are not near extinction?" ANIMAL ACT Animal Rights fight for the rights of animals, do you 'Doctor' advocate that only when animals become extinct do they suddenly have rights. Maybe you would have us apply this policy to the Human Race as well. What causes particular alarm abroad and among animal rights activists in South Korea is the illegal way some dogs are killed to make the meat more tender - by beating, burning or hanging. "If they want to criticise the cruelty of killing dogs, what about people enjoying bull-fighting?" Korea was not the only country where dogs are killed for food, Ann said. He said the United States killed at least three million dogs a year for animal feed and China butchered about 10 million dogs for food, 10 times more than in Korea. ANIMAL ACT Since when has the actions of other cruel practices been the argument to justify one own cruel behaviour. 'Animal Rights' world-wide fight all forms of cruelty, including those that you have chosen to mention and including our own cruelty associated with our meat industry. CONTROVERSIAL BUT LOW-CHOLESTEROL Ann, a professor at Chungchong University in central Korea, was the featured speaker at a seminar on Friday in Seoul, where 100 dogmeat restaurant owners and butchers discussed plans to promote dogmeat to foreign tourists during the World Cup. ANIMAL ACT How would you go about promoting this abhorrence of a practice, by slipping it our dishes unknowingly and then laughing at us when we have eaten what we believed to be "normal meat". All we can say to the visitors to your country is, you have been warned, so you have a choice. Either cancel your trip, watch the games on television or pack a whole lot of sandwiches. South Korea has about 4,000 registered dogmeat restaurants and the number would be much higher if those selling dog among other dishes were included. ANIMAL ACT As we said, foreign visitors be warned. "I hope we can agree on a plan to open dogmeat restaurant franchises," said Shin Choon-ja, who has been serving poshintang for 17 years in the western port city of Incheon. ANIMAL ACT Simultaniously, we hope, that in a very short time, we can close down every motor car and other South Korean product franchise in the 'Civilised' world. "Dogmeat was served as a precious food in my hometown when I was young. We don't have to feel ashamed about eating dogmeat." ANIMAL ACT No, you don't have to be ashamed that you eat dogmeat, you have to be ashamed full stop. Ann's strategy for boosting the Korean dogmeat industry focuses on Web sites developing new recipes. A seminar organiser said dogmeat restaurants would form a federation and promote dogmeat on the Internet during the World Cup. ANIMAL ACT People eat in restaurants, not on the Internet and as we stated before, you have made your strategy quite clear and not a single tourist will be safe eating in South Korean restaurant. Dogmeat was ideal for patients recovering from major surgery, Ann said. ANIMAL ACT The visitors to your country are not there to recover from major surgery so what is the point of this comment. It seems to us in the West that to many eastern men have a serious problem with their manhood and health. They justify the wholesale slaughter of the earth's species notably Tigers, Sharks, Whales, Rhino, Gorillas, Perleomoen, Seals and Whales for either aphrodisiac or health purposes. No wonder one finds huge overpopulation problems in these countries, so obsessed with sex and staying alive. "The digestion ratio of dogmeat is several times higher than beef, pork or chicken meat," said the soft-spoken Ann. ANIMAL ACT Strange how a soft-spoken person can be so persistent in advocating cruel and barbaric slaughter of animals. By the way, Dr Dogmeat, vegetarians have no problem with cholesterol or digestion ratio's "That and low cholesterol level makes dogmeat an ideal food for recovering patients." ANIMAL ACT Maybe if patients, had a sound diet of vegetables, clean living conditions and less obsession with sex and dying, they wouldn't be patients in need of "ideal food." Story by Kim Myong-hwan WHAT CAN YOU DO. Join this campaign (Sample letter is written in tne box below) Name: Organization or Office: Address: Zip Code: Country: E-mail: Your opinion: Dear President Kim, Despite the 1984 Ministry of Health law banning dog-meat soup and the 1991 law enacted to protect dogs and cats from torture and slaughter, dogs and cats are still not safe in South Korea. Several South Korean politicians and the Korean media continue to claim that dog eating is a centuries old tradition, but in truth, Korean cultural heritage does not include torturing and eating dogs and cats. Boiling cats alive to make "medicine" never existed before the 1980s, when the idea was first promoted by dog dealers as a moneymaking scheme. Until the 1980s, dog eating was a back alley vice practised by men seeking to boost their sexual stamina. President Kim, even if eating dogs and drinking cat juice were cultural traditions, isn’t it time to abandon these barbaric practices that so many people around the world find disgusting, cruel and barbaric? These repulsive practices are unnecessary. As human civilisation and cultures evolve, many nations have shed so-called "traditions" that are rooted in cruelty, suffering and subjugation. Isn’t it time Korea follows suit? Korean dog butchers also emphasise that dogs reared for slaughter and consumption are "food" dogs, as opposed to "pet" dogs. However, despite how they look on the outside, all dogs suffer the same pain when they are beaten, blowtorched, hanged and electrocuted. Please institute new laws that will protect dogs and cats from being tortured and consumed. Failure to do will not only hurt South Korea’s public image, but will perpetuate the negative stereotype of Koreans as nothing more than heartless, dog-eating barbarians. Sincerely, (Your Name Here and Country Here) Addresses to protest: President Kim, Dae-Jung Blue House 1 Sejong-Ro, Jongno-gu Seoul, South Korea 110-050 Webmaster@cwd.go.kr Korean Tourist Bureau EMAIL: kntotic@www.knto.or.kr Prime Minister Lee, Han-Dong 77-6 Sejong-Ro, Jongno-gu Seoul, South Korea 110-050 EMAIL: m_opm@opm.go.kr (opm.go.kr) Minister Choi, Sun-Jung The Ministry of Health and Welfare 1 Joongang-dong Kwanchun City, Kyoungki-do South Korea 427-760 EMAIL: wmaster@mohw.go.kr (mohw.go.kr) Minister Kim, Dong-Tae The Ministry of Agriculture 1 Joongang-dong Kwanchun City, Kyoungki-do South Korea 427-760 EMAIL: minister@maf.go.kr (maf.go.kr ) Mr. Yang, Kyu-Hwan Director Korean Food and Drug Administration 5 Nokbun-dong, Unpyoung-gu Seoul, South Korea 122-704 EMAIL: kh1yang@kfda.go.kr (kfda.go.kr) Governor Yu, Kun-Man Governor of Jeju Province 312-1, Yeon-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do 690-700 TEL. 82-64-710-2362, EMAIL: wookm@provin.jeju.kr (provin.jeju.kr) Politicians and Parties Address Directory - Politicians Of The World US Congressmen Contacting the Cogress CONGRESSIONAL E-MAIL ADDRESSES AND WEB SITES The U.S. House Of Representatives Member Office Web Services US Senators Environment And Public Works Committee Foreign Relations Committee Korean Politicians and Parties Office of the President Office of the Prime Minister Korea Window Government Party Opposite Party Co-Government Party Join this campaign Tell A Friend to join campaign! Type In Your Name: Type In Your E-mail: Your Friend's E-mail: Given Contents: Dear Friend, We want animal friend's help to rescue our pitiful 'edible' dogs. Every year over 3 million dogs and cats are slaughtered by electrocution, hanging, boiling and being skinned alive. In South Korea many people believe that if you torture a dog or cat before its death the rise in its adrenaline makes the "meat" taste better and that the "meat" is an aphrodisiac. Korea also has the animal protection law, but only as a front to pacify the internationally community. So we need more strong sanction againt eating pets because every cruelty to these animal originates from eating them. It's the Boycott 2002 World Cup Soccer. Please tell Korean President, Mr. Kim Dae Jung that until these tortures and murders stop you will boycott all the products from South Korea. Office of the Korean President Kim Dae Jung: http://www.cwd.go.kr/cgi-bin/php/engletter/writeform.php3 webmaster@cwd.go.kr Ambassador Sung Chul Yang Embassy of the Republic of Korea 2450 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20008 Tel.: 202-939-5600 Fax: 202-232-0117 Addresses to Protest: Office of The Korean President (Civil Appeal Form, http://www.cwd.go.kr/cgi-bin/php/engletter/writeform.php3) Ministry Of Health and Welfare (Bulletin Board, http://mohw.go.kr/english/board/qna/list.html) Ministry Of Health and Welfare (eMail, minister@mohw.go.kr) More Info: http://www.admh.org/data/fifa.htm Dog Slaughter Gallery: http://www.admh.org/slide/slide1.htm See Also: ADMH, Anti-Dogmeat Movement Headquarters(http://www.admh.org/) (Please forward this mail to your friends.) Receive copy:  the answer: Stop dog killing and then we will go to Seoul gladly(Option 1- animal rights and liberation groups). Stop whale killing and then we will go to Tokyo gladly(Option 2 - environmental and green groups). Global festivals cannot be held in countries that pursue only their own economic growth without moral improvement and contribution to global welfare(Option 3- political and social groups).