(Seoul) Rally against dog meat eaters

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Rally against dog meat eaters

 

From our wire services

27jan02

 

SEOUL: Displaying pictures of skinned dogs, several dozen South Korean

animal rights activists have rallied at a park here to protest their

country's predilection for dog meat dishes.

 

The rally was to counter recent moves by dog meat supporters to defend the

South Korean culinary tradition ahead of this year's soccer World Cup,

scheduled for May 31-June 30.

 

Shouting " Stop abusing animals, " the protesters burned photographs of two

South Korean national MPs who have led a campaign to legalise the sale of

dog meat.

 

Dog meat supporters insist that canine flesh is an indigenous Korean food

culture just like horse meat, snail and pigeon in other countries.

 

About three million of South Korea's 47 million people are believed to eat

dog meat as a delicacy. There are about 6,000 dog meat restaurants in South

Korea.

 

Many Koreans consider criticism of the practice a slight to their national

pride.

 

On Friday, 100 South Korean dog meat restaurateurs rallied in Seoul to

oppose an expected government crackdown on them ahead of the World Cup.

 

South Korea has no law governing the sale of the meat. Concerned about its

image, the government had banned the food during the 1988 Seoul Olympics by

invoking a law that prohibits the sale of " foods deemed unsightly " . After

the Olympics, the ban was not strictly enforced.

 

Dozens of national MPs have introduced legislation in parliament to formally

legalise dog meat in South Korea. The bill is pending and is unlikely to be

adopted because the majority of MPs do not support it.

 

The centuries-old Korean custom drew international attention after Sepp

Blatter, president of FIFA, soccer's world governing body, in November urged

South Koreans to stop eating dog meat during the World Cup. French actress

and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot also denounced the practice in

radio and television interviews.

 

South Koreans slaughter only so-called " meat dogs " for eating, not pets.

 

Dog meat is also eaten in some other Asian countries, including China,

Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand.