On July 23rd 2012, these dogs bred and captured on Jeju Island, cramped in metal cages and without knowing where they were going, started a long journey to the mainland of S. Korea. They were all heading to the dog meat markets in the big cities. Dogs of all breeds and sizes were victims on this horrific one-way non-stop journey. During the journey, some of them were collapsed from exhaustion and died. This is the reality of the dog meat industry in S. Korea. Read more: ‘The dog truck’ not guilty? … people’s backlash diffusing online
The Korean government is well aware that legalizing consumption and production of dog meat will only make the situation worse. The government has been neglecting the problems arising from the dog meat industry instead of solving the barbaric animal cruelty inflicted on the dogs in this illegal industry.
As seen from the dogs being transported from Jeju to mainland S. Korea, this kind of extreme animal cruelty is still rampant. All dogs have the right to be loved as sentient beings, but unfortunately, all dogs in this case experienced a long, painful journey from Jeju Island to the mainland.
The Korean Animal Protection Law was recently revised to protect animals and to provide safety for their vulnerable lives. However, this law isn’t enforced and therefore the consumption, production, and trade of dog meat must be eradicated.
Some dogs are lucky enough to live their lives with humans as companion animals and as part of the family. Unfortunately, at the same time, many dogs are abandoned by their owners on the street, picked up off the street by the dog meat traders, and thrown into cages where they have to live in wire cages for the rest of their lives, awaiting an excruciating death.
There is a purported myth in S. Korea that only a certain breed of dog is eaten—a yellow mixed dog known as “Neurreungi”. However, there is no distinction between the companion dogs and the dogs used for meat. Dog farms consist of former companion animals, puppy mill dogs, dogs sold from closed dog auctions, and Jindos who failed to pass the Jindo Preservation Ordinance (Jindo is a breed designated as the 53rd Natural Treasure in S.Korea). All these animals are mixed together in cages, begging to be saved from their cruel destiny—to be eaten as bosintang (dog meat soup) or gaegogi (dog meat). Source: KARA
Statistics on the Dog Meat Industry
Dog Meat Dog Breed
The so-called dog-meat dog is called Nureongi or Hwangu, which means yellow dog. These dogs are considered a kind of “livestock” breed. However, they are just like any other dog. It should also be noted that any dog from any breed can end up as dog meat.
Amount Slaughtered
An average figure is around 2.50 million dogs.
In 2002 – 2.95 million dogs
In 2005 – 2.31 million dogs
Amount of Dog Meat Consumed Annually
Around 100,000 tons.
Around 93,600 tons is supposedly used for making tonics.
Number of Dog Meat Restaurants
Hard to get a definite figure. In 1998 there were 6,484 registered. Sources often say around 4,000 to 6,000. However, an estimate of the actual number restaurants is around 20,000.
Percentage of Population Eating Dog Meat
Figures vary widely. A small percentage would eat it regularly. This would be people in the older age bracket. Some say around 30% of Koreans have tried it, while others say around 60%. Another survey found that 42% of respondents ate dog meat.
Koreans For and Against Dog Meat Eating
Inconclusive. According to one source, a Ministry of Agriculture survey found that 59% of under 30-year-olds would not eat dog; 62% of under 30-year-olds regarded dogs as pets and not food.
In one survey, around 85% of people surveyed did not think dog eating should be eradicated (this figure is arrived at by added together the 42% dog meat eaters and 43% non-dog meat eaters in the survey that supported dog meat eating). This figure seems dubious.
In Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 65, No. 3, 2009, pp. 615–632, it shows survey results on the attitudes to the uses of dogs. “Respondents were in favor of using dogs as pets or companions (60% tended to or strongly approved), but themajority were against the use of dogs as food for humans (55% tended to or strongly disapproved). Pet owners were not significantly more likely to disapprove of using dogs for food than nonpet owners (58% compared with 53%, respectively).” So, the majority of Koreans are against it but not by a large margin.
Main Dog Meat Dish
Bosintang, it’s a kind of soup dish with chunks of dog meat.
Three Main Dog Meat Days
Sambok (Boknal): Chobok, Joongbok, and Malbok.
These are based on the lunar calendar and supposedly coincide with the 3 hottest days of the year. They’re around the end of July and beginning of August.
