Fewer and fewer South Koreans eat dog meat and the consumption of this meat could soon be banned. Farmers denounce discrimination.
About two hours south of the South Korean capital, Seoul, more than 200 dogs were being raised on a small farm to be sold to restaurants. Under the impetus of the Humane Society International association, the animals were saved and sent to the United States or Canada to be adopted. “It’s a typical dog farm in South Koreaexplains Lee Sangkyung who directs the Korean program of the NGO. Dogs on these farms are fed human food scraps from restaurants.”
“Dogs on farms like this are born here, give birth here, and usually stay for less than a year. Some are forced to breed to provide their young for the industry”, continues Lee Sangkyung. Every year, 400,000 dogs are eaten in South Korea, especially on the hottest days.
“People in South Korea still have this false perception that dog meat increases stamina, so there are still local restaurants serving it.”
Lee Sangkyung, Humane Society Internationalat franceinfo
To save the animals, the members of the NGO must enter the cages, scan the chip they have installed and convince the dogs, often fearful and suspicious, to go into a travel crate. The animals are not used to contact with humans because they have stayed too long, three or four in cages with rusty bars, and whose floor is made up of solidified excrement.
A “dying” industry
The 73-year-old owner has decided to put an end to his activity, because his profession is increasingly criticized in the country. MPs from both camps have come out in favor of banning the consumption of dog meat as the relationship to animals has evolved in the country. The number of pets is skyrocketing. “I’ve been a dog breeder for 30 years, but it’s been about two or three years since I had this idea of closing my operation, partly because I’m over 70 and my health is not good.explains Mr. Yang. I got all the permits, I’ve been doing this for a very long time, but over the years it got worse and I think now this industry is dying. The groups animal protection organizations file a complaint, take photos, continue to criticize us. The local authorities come to watch us. There is such pressure now that it is almost impossible for someone alone and helpless to hold this kind of exploitation.
>> The slaughter of dogs and cats has already been banned since 2018 in South Korea under the leadership of the President Moon Jae-in
The NGO will support him financially in his new activity. He now plans to grow vegetables and has signed a contract banning him from any business involving animals for 20 years. This retraining aid is one of the avenues studied by the authorities to try to guarantee a future for the breeders of the more than 1,000 farms across the country. In recent weeks, the latter have organized demonstrations to oppose the ban on the consumption of dog meat, a measure they consider discriminatory but which seems supported by a majority of South Koreans.