Dog meat supporters, protesters clash as lawmakers mull criminalization

An anti-dog meat protester is held by a police officer as she vents anger at dog meat supporting protesters across the road in front of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, March 9. Screen capture from YouTube

By Ko Dong-hwan

Korean dog meat distributors and consumers have long been criticized by local and international communities and even the Korean government. But the practice hasn't died out as demand for dog meat continues. Clashes between dog meat lovers and animal rights activists have continued for decades, including one incident in 2019 when Hollywood actress Kim Basinger joined anti-dog meat protesters in front of the National Assembly watching supporters of the practice eat prepared dog meat.

The dog meat saga is expected to enter a new phase soon as lawmakers began pondering this week whether to ban the tradition by revising the country's Animal Protection Act. The revision was proposed late last year.

While discussions over the revision were underway at the National Assembly, dog meat supporters and opponents clashed in front of the country's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Mar. 9. Protesters opposing the consumption of dog meat set up tents four months ago in front of the ministry in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and have been sleeping there as they call for a ban on the distribution of dog meat for consumption. The protesters said they represent the voices of Korea's 15 million pet owners.

Days ago, those who support the practice started protesting right next to the anti-dog meat group.

Tensions escalated as protesters on opposing sides began shouting at each other using harsh language and pointing fingers. Police were there to prevent physical clashes as both groups plan to continue demonstrating throughout this week.

Kim Basinger speaks among anti-dog meat protesters in front of the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, July 2019. Courtesy of Animal Liberation Wave

Records show that dog meat consumption in Korea began to draw attention in the 1920s. At that time, Koreans defended their custom when faced with criticism from dog lovers overseas. A DongA Ilbo newspaper report from July 1924 said "Westerners" condemned the tradition because "they don't eat dog meat but instead treat the animals as if they are their seniors by giving them food on plates people use and sleeping together in the same room."

After the 1950-53 Korean War broke out, many Koreans on the verge of starvation ate dog meat to survive.

But Syngman Rhee, Korea's first president who had lived in Hawaii and Washington, D.C., during the Japanese occupation of Korea, banned the practice citing its "uncleanness." Many people evaded the rule by selling dog meat in restaurants using different names to disguise their ingredients.

As Seoul hosted the Asian Games in 1986 and the Summer Olympics in 1988, politicians and other groups began voicing concerns about the impact the practice would have on Korea's international image. But after the sporting events ended, the country almost gave up on reining in the practice, causing demand for dog meat to bounce back.

One dog meat restaurant owner was cited by an MBC TV news report back then, saying "it's not right (for the Korean government) to prematurely judge dog meat as loathsome from the perspective of Westerners."

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