Contents
1. Dogmeat vendors banned from giving out free dogmeat samples at World Cup
2. Our current campaign against pro-dogmeat lobbyists
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May 13, 2002
1. Dogmeat vendors banned from giving out free dogmeat samples at World Cup
Good news! If you haven’t already heard, the Korean government has banned dogmeat sellers from offering free dogmeat samples near the stadiums during the World Cup games in S. Korea.
A matter of taste: Preparation of Dog Soup in a South Korean
Restaurant
Seoul - "We will not act against the desires of the government", said
Park Sung Soo, the boss of the union of the dog meat restaurants. The
owners of approximately 150 dog meat restaurants in Seoul had the
idea to familiarize European football fans with their "delicacy" and
offer free samples of dog meat in the proximity of stadiums. They
also had considered offering freshly pressed dog juice as free gifts.
But the South Korean government obviously feared international image
loss and decided against the PR action. Approximately three of the 47
million South Koreans are said to eat dog meat regularly. Country-
wide there are 6000 restaurants serving dog meat dishes.
(AP/Der Spiegel)
2. Our current campaign against pro-dogmeat lobbyists
Dear Animal Friends,
The National Dog Meat Restaurants Association's plan to provide foreign visitors with various sample dishes of dog meat during the World Cup has been stopped, but we need to continue our campaign to completely ban the sale and consumption of dog and cat meat. However, please do not fight these people directly. Do not waste your time arguing with them. The fault lies mainly with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korea Food & Drug Administration. We must fight the root of the problem and therefore concentrate our protest on the government departments which have the power and obligation to abolish dog meat but choose not to do so.
In 1984, the Ministry of Health and Welfare prescribed dog meat and dog soup as disgusting foods. The Food Sanitation Law bans the manufacturing and selling of dog meat. The law states that restaurant owners who sell dog meat should lose their business license if they are caught a third time. Despite this, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has not attempted to enforce the Law, allowing dog meat restaurants to flourish. Furthermore, they have licensed new dog meat restaurants provided that dog meat is called by a name other than Boshintang. This is clearly a case of gross negligence and we must respond by sending strong protest letters and faxes to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korea Food & Drug Administration. If you use the Internet, please make best use of it for the protest.
While there are several government agencies in Korea that have some jurisdiction over the dog consumption problem, right now we need to concentrate on the relevant government departments—those with authority over food and restaurants. So for now let's make sure that the Ministry of Health and Welfare as well as Korea Food & Drug Administration will be flooded with the criticism and protests that they deserve.
Minister Lee, Tae-Bok
The Ministry of Health and Welfare
1 Joongang-dong
Kwanchun City, Kyoungki-do
South Korea 427-760
Mr. Lee Young Soon Director, Korean Food and Drug Administration
5 Nokbun-dong, Unpyoung-fu
Seoul, South Korea 122-704
(Ask to crack down on and close dog meat restaurants.)
Fax letters to: 02- 02-354-8622 or mail to the above address.
www.mohw.go.kr - cyber civil application room or my opinion
Kyenan Kum
International Aid for Korean Animals
Korea Animal Protection Society
P.O. Box 20600, Oakland, 94620-0600, USA
www.koreananimals.org
iaka@koreananimals.org
