Friendship City Campaign – Hwaseong, South Korea – Torrance, California
Torrance, California: Tell Friendship City, Hwaseong, South Korea, that you oppose the torture and consumption of dogs and cats.
If you want to help fight the grisly South Korean dog and cat meat trade and make a difference in South Korea, here are a few quick actions you can take that could save millions of dogs and cats each year.
Hwaseong became a Friendship City with Torrance, California, on October 11, 2023.
The “Special Bill to end the breeding, slaughter, and distribution of dogs for consumption and dog meat consumption” was passed by South Korea’s National Assembly on January 9, 2024, mandating the cessation of all related operations. However, the dog meat trade has always been illegal, and despite this new legislation, there has been no change, and the situation remains dire for the dogs confined in dog farms across the country.
In Hwaseong, there are numerous dog farms, slaughterhouses, markets, and restaurants where the dogs, who have been tortured their entire lives, end up being slaughtered in the most inhumane ways, such as by electrocution, hanging, or beating, and then thrown into boiling water – sometimes while they are still alive. In many places, dogs are being killed in full view of other terrified, caged dogs, and this takes place in broad daylight. In addition, many abandoned and stolen former pets end up in this industry and are subject to the same cruelty.
Video: 🥷 Watchdog will shut down another dog meat farm/slaughterhouse in Hwaseong.
Video: One of many dog farms in Hwaseong, South Korea. Watchdog shut down this dog farm in June 2022.
Photos: Dog farms in Hwaseong, South Korea.
A Search Engine reveals the sickening scale of Hwaseong’s dog meat demand.
Search results on Naver, the most popular search engine in Korea, revealed the prevalence of so-called “Health Centers” that often sell dog elixirs and cat elixirs, also known as dog soju and cat soju. Additionally, numerous listings for “dog meat restaurants” indicated a significant presence of such establishments in the Hwaseong area.
Even if only half of these “Health” Centers and dog meat restaurants incorporate dog and cat “ingredients” in some form, the number of dog and cat farms and slaughterhouses required to supply these outlets is staggering.
There are laws in South Korea against selling dogs and cats for consumption, yet these laws are blatantly ignored.
Call for Action
✳️ 📧 Send emails to the Mayor and the City Councilmembers of Torrance.
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📧 CC (Carbon Copy) email to the Hwaseong City Council, Gyeonggi-do Assembly, and the South Korean National Assembly members.
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✳️ 📬Send letters.
Torrance City Council
3031 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90503
USA
📬 Send a copy of your letter to Hwaseong Government.
Mayor Jeong Myeong-Geun
Hwaseong City Hall
159 Sicheong-ro, Namyang-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do
Postal Code 18274
South Korea
Hwaseong City Council
159 Sicheong-ro, Namyang-eup, Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do
Postal Code 18274
South Korea
📬 Hwaseong Government’s addresses in Korean:
정명근 화성 시장님
화성시청
(우)18274 경기도 화성시 남양읍 시청로 159
South Korea
화성시의회
(우)18274 경기도 화성시 남양읍 시청로 159
South Korea
✳️ Send a message through Facebook pages.
Torrance City Hall
Hwaseong City Hall
Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-Geun
📝 Suggested message
Torrance City Council: Please tell Friendship City, Hwaseong, South Korea, that you oppose the torture and consumption of dogs and cats.
Dear Mayor Chen and Members of the Torrance City Council,
As representatives of Torrance, we implore you to reconsider your Friendship City agreement with Hwaseong, South Korea, a city that permits dogs and cats to be horribly abused and brutally killed for food.
While graphic, these undercover videos depicting South Korea’s dog meat industry are important to watch:
Part 1 of 2: https://youtu.be/_ZVQjgGb4RQ
Part 2 of 2: https://vimeo.com/754160791
Forest fire in Uljin burns dogs imprisoned in dog meat farms: https://youtu.be/mh1lEGt2gjU
https://youtu.be/GLLeI_XFNPg
Dogs who suffered their entire lives are electric tortured and killed in cages—South Korea’s horrific dog meat industry. https://koreandogs.org/jtbc-news-electric-tortured-in-cages/
Despite the passage of the “Special Bill to end the breeding, slaughter, and distribution of dogs for consumption and dog meat consumption” by South Korea’s National Assembly on January 9, 2024, which mandates all operations to cease, the situation remains dire. Dogs confined in dog farms in Hwaseong and across South Korea continue to suffer immensely.
Countless dogs endure unbearable conditions at the below dog farms in Hwaseong.
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Namyang-dong 957-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Namyang-dong 957-7 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Namyang-dong 963-3 963-6 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Gomo-ri 113 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Geumdang-ri 412-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Geumdang-ri 821-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Geumdang-ri 829 830-1 833-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Dugok-ri 44 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Seokgyo-ri 150 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Seokgyo-ri 382-2 -3 413 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Seokgyo-ri 403-2 403-3 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Seokgyo-ri 404 404-1 405 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Seokgyo-ri 454-1 456 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Cheongwon-ri 137-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Cheongwon-ri 574-10 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Cheongwon-ri 601-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Mado-myeon Haemun-ri 387-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Maesong-myeon Yamok-ri 195
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Musong-ri 566 567 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Bongdam-eup Buncheon-ri 225 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Bukyang-dong 411-3 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Bibong-myeon Namjeon-ri 19-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Bibong-myeon Namjeon-ri San 35
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Bibong-myeon Yupo-ri 215 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Seoshin-myeon Baekmi-ri 266 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Seoshin-myeon Sagot-ri 469-3
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Seoshin-myeon Yongdu-ri 42 43 44 45 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Seoshin-myeon Jangue-ri 197-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Songsan-myeon Dokji-ri 874-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Songsan-myeon Jungsong-ri 358-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 1015 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 1033 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 1034 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 1040-1 1040-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 249 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 263-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 419-2 419-3 424-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Shinnam-dong 870 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Yanggam-myeon Daeyang-ri 143-2 177-3 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Yanggam-myeon Daeyang-ri 25-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Onseok-dong 496-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Ujeong-eup Maehyang-ri 851-3 -4 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Ujeong-eup Unpyeong-ri 1044-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Ujeong-eup Unpyeong-ri 396-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Ujeong-eup Wonan-ri 772 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Ujeong-eup Ihwa-ri 347 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jugok-ri San 31 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangdeok-dong 749 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Deokda-ri 177 177-1 178 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Deokda-ri 262 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Deokda-ri 776 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Dokjeong-ri 1013-3 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Dokjeong-ri 369 370 370-1 371 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Dokjeong-ri 371-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Dokjeong-ri 699 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Dokjeong-ri 768 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Sarang-ri 3-16 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Seokpo-ri 514-6 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Seokpo-ri 556 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Seokpo-ri 777-12 777-13 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Seokpo-ri 777-94 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Jangan-ri 1291-1 1293 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Jangan-myeon Jangan-ri 85 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Paltan-myeon Gajae-ri 635-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Goju-ri 305 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Paltan-myeon Deoku-ri 255 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Paltan-myeon Deokcheon-ri 17-1 18 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Paltan-myeon Maegok-ri 59-3 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Paltan-myeon Wolmun-ri 180-3 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Paltan-myeon Yulam-ri 445 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Hyangnam-eup Baekto-ri 429-1 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Hyangnam-eup Baekto-ri 434 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Hyangnam-eup Sangshin-ri 263 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Hyangnam-eup Songgok-ri 368-2 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Hyangnam-eup Hagil-ri 1162-3 -4 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Hyangnam-eup Hwarihyeon-ri 486 beonji
Gyeonggi-do Hwaseong Hwalcho-dong 65 beonji
Hwaseong is one of the largest dog meat suppliers and consumption cities in South Korea. Korean web searches turn up dozens of dog meat restaurants and so-called “Health Centers” that commonly serve soup made of dog meat as phony elixirs (also known as dog soju).
Dogs suffer their entire lives in filthy, feces-encrusted raised wire cages in dire misery only to be slaughtered in the most horrific of ways— tortured by electrocution, hammer strikes to their head, hanging, being beaten to death, having their throats slit, being burned alive with a blowtorch or thrown into a vat of boiling water while still alive. In many places, dogs are killed in full view of other caged dogs who tremble with terror. These poor dogs are often burned alive in their cages, unable to escape. They are fed rotten, moldy garbage full of chili peppers unfit for any animals to eat, and they are not given water. In addition, beloved pets are often stolen and sold to these slaughterhouses, where they meet the same horrific fate. Puppies who die of disease are tossed away like trash, often left in front of cages to rot while their mothers watch and cry out in despair. The dog farms and slaughterhouses in Hwaseong persist in violating multiple existing laws, but the Hwaseong government’s response has been inadequate, reflecting a shameful indifference to animal suffering.
Mayor Christopher Chung of Palisades Park, New Jersey, has already shown his rejection of the dog meat trade in no uncertain terms. As reported in the Korea Times, he recently rejected a visit from exchange students from Friendship City, Incheon Ganghwa County, due to its dog meat trade. In California, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting legislation or administrative action that would request the governments of South Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia ban the sale of dog meat and enforce their animal protection laws.
On behalf of animal lovers worldwide, we ask that you follow these bold leads by not remaining silent in the face of such abhorrent cruelty. Please urge Hwaseong Mayor Jeong Myeong-Geun to shut down all dog farms, slaughterhouses, markets, dog meat restaurants, and truckers transporting dogs to their inevitable fates. An online petition calling for your support in ending such horrors perpetrated in Hwaseong is in progress: https://chng.it/pgMW5bfV4K.
Thank you for your serious consideration. We eagerly await your reply.
Sincerely,
[Your name, city, country]
✳️ ☎️ Call the Torrance Mayor’s Office.
Phone: (310) 618-2801
Fax: (310) 618-5841
☎️ Suggested phone message
I’m calling to speak with someone in the Mayor’s Office regarding an important issue related to your Friendship City, Hwaseong, in South Korea.
I want to bring to your attention that dog meat consumption continues in Hwaseong despite it being illegal under South Korean law. Unfortunately, these laws are not enforced. The dog and cat meat trades involve severe and widespread animal cruelty, causing the animals unimaginable pain and distress. As these animals cannot advocate for themselves, I am reaching out on their behalf. I believe your city would want to be informed of this situation, as you would likely not wish to be associated with a city where illegal and inhumane practices are ongoing, especially involving loyal and trusting animals that look to us as their protectors.
Despite growing opposition from animal advocates in South Korea and around the world, these illegal trades persist, supported by insufficient action from local authorities.
I kindly request that you discuss this matter with your counterparts in Hwaseong, urging them to enforce their laws, show compassion towards their animals, and demonstrate respect for their citizens by ending these trades.
South Korea has many beautiful and admirable traditions worth preserving, but this is not one of them.
Thank you for your time and understanding.
✳️ Post on X.
Suggested X text
.@ggholic .@dy_future .@TorranceCA #Torrance Tell Friendship City #Hwaseong #SouthKorea that you oppose torture and consumption of #dogs #cats #dogmeat #catmeat https://chng.it/pgMW5bfV4K✊https://koreandogs.org/Hwaseong-Torrance
Video: South Korea’s horrific dog meat industry. KBS DIGITALNEWS LAB.
Video: In the dog meat farm, the Dog Meat Consumption Prohibition Law has no meaning for the tens of thousands remaining and puppies yet to be born. CARE.
No matter where you live, PLEASE SHARE these actions with your friends, especially those who live in Torrance!
Share this:
STOP 🫷 NO COMER CARNE, HAY QUE LIBERARLOS, TIENEN DERECHOS A VIVIR SON SERES VIVOS COMO TÚ TÚ DEJÉNLOS PAZ Y HUMANOS Y ANIMALES SON IGUALES IGUALDAD
Lopettakaa tuo hirveä julmuus viattomille eläimille !!!!!!! Please stop this horrible cruelty to innocent animals !!!!!!!
KOREANS, YOU HAVE NO SHAME OR DECENCY!!!
The civil countries of the world should have governments who refuse to trade with your country until this savage industry is shut down. Your products and companies should be boycotted in our countries until this stops.