Sample Protest Letter – South Korean Government & Talking Points

Dear President Yoon Suk-Yeol and the South Korean Government,

Please watch these videos:
– Shocking Cruelty of South Korean Dog Meat Industry Part 1 of 2: https://youtu.be/_ZVQjgGb4RQ
Part 2 of 2: https://vimeo.com/754160791
– The Dog Meat Professionals: South Korea https://youtu.be/cCdTceduKcY
– CARE Press Conference – Exposing Seongnam Taepyeong-Dong Illegal Dog Slaughterhouses https://koreandogs.org/care-press-conference-exposing-seongnam-taepyeong-dong-illegal-dog-slaughterhouses/

I am extremely upset about the torture and consumption of companion animals in South Korea.
With the ubiquity of social media, we see shocking and heartbreaking images and videos of innocent dogs being tortured and killed in your country every day.

Even though Korea has established an Animal Protection Law for companion animals, dogs are still beaten, hung, electrocuted, and treated brutally by farmers and butchers. Also, dogs and cats are still being beaten and boiled alive for so-called elixirs, which do not have medical properties except in the minds of ignorant and gullible customers.

These practices have no place in the modern world. Other Asian countries have banned dog meat and the cruel industry that goes with it, such as Taiwan and the Philippines. Why does Korea persist in lagging behind these countries and other civilized societies?

It’s the responsibility of the Korean government to once and for all end the cruel dog meat and cat medicine industries in Korea. It is time to dismiss the childish myths and propaganda surrounding these industries and their vile products. It is time to leave behind backward and unnecessary traditions.

And it is time for Korea to start taking animal welfare seriously and show that it does have a compassionate and ethical society. That means it is time for the Korean government to better educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering, not abandoning pets, and properly treating animals.

Until these things are done, Korea’s reputation in the international community will continue to suffer. Its citizens will continue to face shame and embarrassment. And Korea will continue to be regarded as the “third world” despite its modernization and attempts at globalized thinking.

I would ask that you do all in your power to stop this barbarism and cruelty immediately.

From now on, I will boycott Korean products, and I will not support Korean companies or visit Korea until the abuse of cats and dogs has finally ended.

Yours sincerely,

윤석열 대통령 각하와 대한민국 정부에 바랍니다.

저희는 대한민국에서는 반려동물을 고문하고 잡아먹는다는 사실을 알고 엄청난 충격을 받았습니다. 여러 통로의 소셜 미디어를 통해서 한국에 있는개들이 고문 당하고 죽임 당하는 끔찍하고 가슴 아픈 장면이 담긴 사진과 동영상을 매순간 접하고 있습니다. 다음의 동영상을 봐주시기 바랍니다.
– “충격! 잔인한 대한민국 개식용 산업” Part 1 of 2: https://youtu.be/_ZVQjgGb4RQ Part 2 of 2: https://vimeo.com/754160791
– “다큐멘터리: 대한민국의 육견 업자들” https://youtu.be/cCdTceduKcY
– 태평동 개도살장서 ‘인플루엔자 개고기’ 전국 무방비 유통 https://koreandogs.org/care-press-conference-exposing-seongnam-taepyeong-dong-illegal-dog-slaughterhouses/
http://www.fnnews.com/news/201808161908064387

한국에 반려동물에 대한 동물보호법이 존재하지만, 그럼에도 불구하고 개농장 주인들과 도살업자들은 개들을 구타하고, 목 매달고, 감전 시키고, 잔인하게 취급하고 있습니다. 또 보약이라는 미명 하에 아직도 개와 고양이를 산채로 끓는 물에 집어넣고 있습니다. 아무런 의학적 효과가 증명된 바 없음에도 불구하고 무지하고 잘 속아넘어가는 사람들은 여전히 보신탕, 개소주, 고양이탕이 효험이 있다고 신봉하고 있습니다. 이러한 관습은 오늘날 어디에서도 찾아볼 수 없는 일입니다. 대만이나 필리핀 같은 다른 아시아 국가들은 이미 개고기와 개고기 관련 산업을 금지했습니다. 한국이 왜 이 나라들이나 다른 문명 사회보다 뒤처진 채로 남아있는지 이해할 수가 없습니다.

한국에서 이 잔인한 개고기 산업과 고양이탕 산업을 영원히 근절시키는 것은 대한민국 정부의 책임입니다. 이와 관련된 산업과 혐오식품을 둘러싼 어리석은 괴담과 주장을 떨쳐버릴 때입니다. 낙후되고 불필요한 전통은 과감히 버릴 때입니다. 그리고 동물복지 문제를 심각하게 받아들여서 한국 사회가 자비롭고 윤리적인 사회라는 것을 보여줄 때입니다. 이는 결국 한국 정부가 전국민을 상대로 반려동물 중성화의 중요성, 반려동물 유기 금지, 동물에 대한 적절한 취급에 대해 제대로 된 교육을 시작할 때라는 뜻입니다.

그렇지 않으면 한국은 국제사회에서 계속해서 나쁜 평판을 이어가게 될 것입니다. 한국 국민들 역시 수치와 곤란함을 겪게 될 겁니다. 한국이 근대화되었고 국제화된 사고를 도입하려 함에도 불구하고 여전히 “제3세계 후진국가”로 인식될 것입니다. 잔인한 관습인 개, 고양이 식용에 종지부를 찍을 수 있도록 온 힘을 다해주시기를 강력하게 요청드립니다.

저는 개와 고양이에 대한 학대가 한국에서 완전히 사라지기 전까지 한국 제품을 구매하지 않을 것이고 한국 회사를 이용하거나 한국을 방문하지 않을 것입니다.

Dear President Yoon Suk-Yeol and Korean Government Officials:

As an American citizen, I am angry and appalled over the torture and consumption of companion animals in South Korea. Every day on social media we are hearing of horrific abuse and seeing shocking images and videos of innocent dogs being tortured and killed in your country. (for example see: https://youtu.be/cCdTceduKcY )

Even though Korea has an Animal Protection Law for companion animals, it is meaningless as the Korean government does not enforce it. Consequently, dogs are still beaten, hung, electrocuted, and brutally treated by farmers and slaughterers. In addition, both dogs and cats are still being boiled alive for so-called elixirs having no medical properties except in the minds of gullible customers.

These practices have no place in the modern world. Yet, all this goes on in the open, and the Korean government does nothing to stop it. Why? Other Asian countries have banned the eating of dog meat and the cruel industry that promotes it. Why not Korea?

It is the responsibility of the Korean government to end the abhorrently cruel dog meat and cat medicine industries in Korea and start taking animal welfare seriously. This means educating its citizens about the importance of spaying and neutering, not abandoning pets, and treating animals humanely. Until these things are done, Korea’s reputation in the international community will deservedly suffer.

I urge you and the people of Korea to listen to the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi, who said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Americans love their companion animals, dogs and cats alike. But it is not only for that reason we feel a special obligation to speak out on this issue. We also remember our many loved ones whose lives were sacrificed in your country, ensuring your freedom. We are mindful of the considerable treasure our country continues to spend for that exact purpose. We can only pray that so much sacrifice has been worth the cost.

Until the illegal dog meat and cat medicine industries have been finally abolished in Korea, I will boycott all Korean products and companies. I also intend to urge everyone I know to encourage everyone they know, etc., to do the same. In addition, I will unceasingly lobby our government to do whatever is within its power to persuade Korea to join the civilized nations of the world concerning its treatment of companion animals.

Thank you for your time. The favor of your reply is requested.

Sincerely,

For Telephone Protest

“As an animal lover, and part of a high-profile animal rights group, which has supporters across the globe, I wish to register my deep concern about the unregulated, cruel and abusive dog and cat meat trades with your country, South Korea.

I sincerely ask that your government immediately begins policing and enforcing your animal protection laws. Until it brings about a permanent end to both the dog and cat meat trades, I will boycott all forms of tourism, all products, and all services from South Korea; and I will urge others to do the same.”

Talking Points

Two and a half million South Korean dogs are electrocuted, hanged, or beaten to death each year. They are killed in the cruelest ways imaginable because many South Koreans believe the insidious myth that the more an animal suffers, the tastier the meat and the enhanced medical properties. Thousands of cats are also slaughtered for soups and so-called “health” tonics. They are thrown into boiling water while still alive.

The practice of eating dogs is not widely accepted in South Korea. It gained popularity after the South Korean War. The practice continues to thrive with the aid of greedy restaurateurs, meat dealers, and butchers.

Over the last decade, many in South Korea have embraced the notion of dogs and cats as animal companions. But we must take action to persuade the South Korean government to legalize a ban on dog and cat meat and forever stop this technically illegal, corrupt, and sordid industry.

It is appalling that dogs and cats should be kept in filthy crates, forced to watch their cage mates being tortured and slaughtered. Eyewitnesses have reported dogs being literally torn apart while still alive, their tormentors saying that the more prolonged the torment of death, the better the taste. This attitude toward any living being is, at best unforgivable.