PYEONGTAEK, South Korea (AP) — The canine bark and stare as Kim Jong-kil approaches the rusty cages housing the big, short-haired animals he sells for his or her meat. Kim opens a door and pets one canine’s neck and chest.
Kim says he’s pleased with the canine meat farm that has supported his household for 27 years, however is upset over rising makes an attempt by politicians and activists to outlaw the enterprise, which he’s turning over to his kids.
“It’s extra than simply feeling unhealthy. I completely oppose these strikes, and we’ll mobilize all our means to withstand it,” Kim, 57, stated in an interview at his farm in Pyeongtaek metropolis, simply south of Seoul.
Canine meat consumption is a centuries-old observe on the Korean Peninsula and has lengthy been seen as a supply of stamina on scorching summer season days. It is neither explicitly banned nor legalized in South Korea, however increasingly more folks need it prohibited. There’s rising public consciousness of animal rights and worries about South Korea’s worldwide picture.
The anti-dog meat marketing campaign lately obtained an enormous enhance when the nation’s first girl expressed her assist for a ban and two lawmakers submitted payments to get rid of the canine meat commerce.
“Foreigners assume South Korea is a cultural powerhouse. However the extra Ok-culture will increase its worldwide standing, the larger shock foreigners expertise over our canine meat consumption,” stated Han Jeoungae, an opposition lawmaker who submitted laws to outlaw the canine meat business final month.
Prospects for passage of an anti-dog meat regulation are unclear due to protests by farmers, restaurant homeowners and others concerned within the canine meat business. Surveys counsel that one in three South Koreans opposes such a ban, although most individuals don’t eat canine meat anymore.
Canines are additionally eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, North Korea and a few African international locations, together with Ghana, Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria.
Earlier this month, Indonesian authorities introduced the top of canine and cat slaughter at an animal market on the island of Sulawesi following a yearslong marketing campaign by native activists and world celebrities. The Tomohon Excessive Market will turn into the primary such market in Indonesia to go canine and cat meat-free, in accordance with the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society Worldwide.
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South Korea’s canine meat business receives extra worldwide consideration due to its status as a rich, ultra-modern democracy. Additionally it is the one nation with industrial-scale farms. Most farms in South Korea have greater than 500 canine, in accordance with a canine farmers’ affiliation.
Throughout a current go to, Kim’s farm, one of many nation’s largest with 7,000 canine, appeared comparatively clear however there was a robust stench in some areas. All canine are stored in elevated cages and are fed with meals waste and floor hen. They’re hardly ever launched for train and usually are bought for meat one yr after they’re born.
Kim stated two of his kids, age 29 and 31, are working the farm with him, and that enterprise has been going fairly effectively. He stated the canine bred for his or her meat are completely different from pets, an concept opposed by activists.
It is tough now to search out canine meat eating places in Seoul’s bustling downtown, although many nonetheless exit within the countryside.
“I solely earn one-third of the cash I used to make. Younger folks don’t come right here. Solely ailing outdated folks come for lunch,” stated Yoon Chu-wol, 77, the proprietor of a canine meat restaurant in Seoul’s Kyungdong conventional market. “I inform my aged prospects to return and eat my meals extra ceaselessly earlier than it’s banned.”
Farmers additionally face rising scrutiny from officers and more and more destructive public opinion. They complain that officers go to them repeatedly in response to complaints filed by activists and residents over alleged animal abuse and different wrongdoing. Kim stated greater than 90 such petitions had been filed in opposition to his farm throughout a current four-month span.
Son Gained Hak, normal secretary of the canine farmers’ affiliation, stated many farms have collapsed in recent times due to falling canine meat costs and weaker demand. He thinks that is a results of activist campaigns and unfair media reviews specializing in farms with inferior situations. Some observers, nonetheless, say consumption of canine meat was already declining, with youthful folks staying away from it.
“Fairly truthfully, I might prefer to stop my job tomorrow. We are able to’t confidently inform our kids that we’re elevating canine,” Son stated. “When my pals referred to as me, they stated ‘Hey, are you continue to working a canine meat farm? Isn’t it unlawful?’”
The variety of farms throughout South Korea has dropped by half from just a few years in the past to about 3,000 to 4,000, and about 700,000 to 1 million canine are slaughtered every year, a decline from a number of million 10 to twenty years in the past, in accordance with the canine farmers’ affiliation. Some activists argue that the farmers’ estimates are an exaggeration meant to point out their business is simply too large to destroy.
In late 2021, South Korea launched a government-civilian job pressure to contemplate outlawing canine meat on the suggestion of then-President Moon Jae-in, a pet lover. The committee, whose members embody farmers and animal rights activists, has met greater than 20 instances however hasn’t reached any settlement, apparently due to disputes over compensation points.
Agriculture officers refused to reveal the discussions within the closed-door conferences. They stated the federal government desires to finish canine meat consumption based mostly on a public consensus.
In April, first girl Kim Keon Hee, the spouse of present President Yoon Suk Yeol, stated in a gathering with activists that she hopes for an finish to canine meat consumption. Famers responded with rallies and formal complaints in opposition to Kim for allegedly hurting their livelihoods.
Han, the lawmaker, stated she “extremely positively appraises” influential figures talking out in opposition to canine meat consumption.
Han stated her invoice provides assist applications for farmers who agree to shut their farms. They might be entitled to cash to dismantle their services, vocational coaching, employment help and different advantages, she stated.
Ju Yeongbong, an official of the farmers’ affiliation, stated farmers wish to proceed for about 20 extra years till older folks, their foremost prospects, die, permitting the business to naturally disappear. Observers say most farmers are additionally of their 60s to 70s.
Borami Web optimization, a director of the South Korea workplace of the Humane Society Worldwide, stated she opposes the continued killing of tens of millions of canine for such a protracted interval. “Letting this silent cruelty to (canine) be dedicated in South Korea doesn’t make sense,” Web optimization stated.
“(Canine meat consumption) is simply too anachronistic, has parts of cruelty to animals and hinders our nationwide progress,” stated Cheon JinKyung, head of Korea Animal Rights Advocates in Seoul.