S. Korean court outlaws killing dogs for meat

World
Europe

02:17

Dog meat is a contentious issue in S. Korea, and 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 S. Koreans are against any ban on eating dog meat.

The country celebrates the "dog days of summer" in July traditionally by eating a bowl of dog soup to beat the heat.

Members of Coexistence for Animal Rights on Earth confine themselves in a cage in a protest against eating dog meat in Seoul, S. Korea, August 7, 2012. /VCG Photo

Markets for dog meat exist not only in S. Korea, but also in other countries -- both in and beyond Asia.

Figures from NGOs show an estimated 30 million dogs are killed for human consumption each year across the world, mainly in China, S. Korea, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Dogs are also known to be eaten in African countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, DR Congo and Nigeria.

Surprisingly, European countries including France and Germany also traditionally enjoyed dog meat until it was banned during the 20th century.

The sale of dog meat is illegal in Singapore, and in China's Taiwan, the consumption of dog meat was officially outlawed in 2017.

Rescue workers from Humane Society International rescue a dog at a dog meat farm in Wonju, S. Korea, January 10, 2017. /VCG Photo

“It represents the conflict between certain culinary cultures in the east and Asia and some modern concept introduced from the west,” said Liu Shinan, a senior columnist from China Daily. “It is the conflict between different cultures.”

But Liu said it was unfair to say cultures that don't eat dogs are more civilized than cultures that do.

Liu said many people in China don’t actually eat dog meat, but they don’t oppose it either.

“We should not discriminate against anyone who may appear to be maverick in the mainstream culture,” he said. “Everybody has the right to be protected by the society.”

(Cover: A S. Korean member of the People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protests against Koreans eating dog meat in front of a dog meat market in Sungnam, July 24, 2005. /VCG Photo)