Eating Dog Meat: Traditional tastes clash with modern sensibilities

World
Europe

02:42

Dog meat is a contentious issue in South Korea. In a landmark decision, a court there ruled recently that killing dogs for consumption violates local animal protection laws. But despite the ruling, surveys show more than half of South Koreans are against any ban on eating dog meat. Shane Hahm reports.

It's the dog days of summer, and in South Korea that traditionally means eating a bowl of dog soup to beat the heat. But animal rights activists are calling for an end to this customary practice. Leading the charge is the nation's First Dog Tori- companion of President Moon Jae-in.

PARK SO-YOUN, PRESIDENT COEXISTENCE OF ANIMAL RIGHTS ON EARTH "We've planned this doll exhibition today of First Dog Tori to spread the word that dogs are no longer food on the table but living creatures that need human care."

Perceptions of man's best friend are changing in South Korea. Nearly one in five residents raises cats or dogs as pets. And a local court recently convicted the owner of a dog-meat farm, saying consumption is not a legal reason to slaughter the animal. Activists hope the ruling will pave the way to ban dog meat altogether.

PARK SO-YOUN, PRESIDENT COEXISTENCE OF ANIMAL RIGHTS ON EARTH "We will continue to report these illegal sites and compile court precedents. Through this, we hope to pass a proposed, stipulated law through the legislature that bans the slaughtering of dogs and cats."

SHANE HAHM SEOUL "Dog consumption is in a legal grey area in South Korea. The agriculture ministry categorizes it as livestock, but food and drug authorities don't officially identify it as food. Because of this, many of the 17,000 dog farms across the country are unlicensed and poorly regulated. But despite changing perceptions, many South Koreans still seem reluctant to part with tradition."

A survey last year shows that 70 percent of residents say they don't eat dog meat. But another recent poll finds that 52 percent are against any outright ban on consumption.

CHRIS DeROSE, PRESIDENT LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS "The reason that we're here is to try to educate people and let the Korean people know that they can speak up and they could have a voice. It's a strong tradition or culture here not to speak up against the government, not to speak up against the status quo. But we're here to say you can have a voice."

South Korea slaughters one million dogs annually for consumption. For pet lovers, breaking centuries of tradition, a 'ruff' road still lies ahead. Shane Hahm, CGTN, Seoul.