Are you Hungry? (South Korean National Football Team)

Member Name: bettyboopy

Product:	South Korean National Football Team
Date:	28/05/07 (220 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: All of the following

I am really going to struggle writing this review, and really struggle on knowing where to put it. Do I put it under "korea", or under "animal rights". I'm not really sure.
Opting for "korea" seems right, as this is something that happens in this country on a daliy basis.
If I put this under the animal rights section, it possibly would be swept away.
I want people to see this review who are looking up Korea as a possible place to visit.
I want them to know what happens in this country, and what to expect to see if they happen to visit one of the thousands of markets, or hundreds of restaurants that sell dog meat. I know that if I didnt know about this and went for a visit to Korea, I would wish I had never bothered going. If a tourist tries to rescue a dog over there, most of the time they are threatened and laughed off the market by locals.



Because of what I am about to write, I cannot ever visit Korea, as for one, I don't want to give them my money on a principal reason, and secondly, I dont think I could control my anger once over there. I can't tell you about the place, or where to visit, but I can tell you about something that happens on a daily basis, and it is very disturbing.

ATTENTION - All animal lovers especially dog lovers, I suggest you consider how much this will upset you before you read anymore. While researching for this review I accidently came across some horrific, unbelievable and awful facts and pictures about torture and mutilation of dogs. Please do not continue to read this review if you think it will upset you. While researching this subject, which I have a reasonable knowledge of already, I felt angry, upset and physically sick.

In this country most of us eat animals on a regular basis, usually cows, pigs and chicken to name the most popular. The animals which are bred and slaughtered in this country have to be bred and slaughtered under strict rules set by law. A farmer who breeds cattle for meat, has to adhere to providing the animals with the correct shelter, food, water and medical attention where needed. As a whole this country is very good at this. Regular inspections by the R.S.P.C.A, and other animal rights bodies, are carried out, on farms and slaughter houses across the UK. In the UK, we are a nation of animal lovers and most of us could not bare cruelty to animals in any way, shape or form. Yes, the animals we eat are obviously killed, but in the UK this is done so in a humane way. I think if this wasn't the case there would be even more vegetarians than ever, along with some hefty protests and calls for tougher laws. Luckily our government is fast to act on animal cruelty, and there are many organisations and charities ready to act if needed.

So that is the UK covered. What about South Korea?



In Korea, people eat cats and dogs. Mainly dogs. Dog meat in Korea is quite expensive to buy and everyone wants it. You expect different cultures to have different living methods, but to be the brutal and barbaric methods of the Koreans should be dealt with seriously by the government.

The Koreans started to eat dog meat in the 60s and 70s due to famine in the country. However, we are now in 2007 and the country is economically well, with hardly any famine left in the country. Dog meat has become an expensive meat to buy, and is no longer needed to feed suffering people.
It is due to these times that people started to make up beliefs such as "if dogs suffer and are mutilated before the die, the meat is better quality".
These people seriously need help.

There are many ways the dogs end up on the many markets across Korea. There are dog farms, where dogs are kept in small cramped cages, often 10 dogs in a 5ft square enclosure, trampling in each other faeces, and over one another. They are malnourished, and if one of them dies or becomes ill, the other dogs eat the fallen one through sheer hunger. The dogs are mainly taken to the market alive. When they get taken to the market, they have their front legs pulled over their backs and tied, and usually have home made tin can muzzles over their mouths and noses to stop any biting or barking. They are then piled on top of one another lying down and sold. When a customer picks out a dog they want, the dog is then killed in front of them, either by strangling, beating with a weapon, or electrocuted throughy the anus. The Koreans BELIEVE that by torturing the dogs before they die adds to the flavour and quality of the meat. They have openly admitted to many journalists and animal rights people that this is true. The dog is often beaten a little, and then skinned alive so the skin and fur can also be sold on. Here is a link to one of this slayings - PLEASE do not go to this link if you feel you will find it disturbing. I accidently found this link while researching.
http://www.seoulsearching.com/grfx/canine/canineb loody1.jpg
http://www.seoulsearching.com/grfx/canine/caniner ip.jpg
The last picture is a dog waiting it's turn in the queue the dogs above were in:
http://www.seoulsearching.com/grfx/canine/caninew atching.jpg


Another very disturbing way the dogs end up on the markets, is through animal rescue centres and animal homes SELLING abandoned, abused, rescued, rehoming dogs to the meat traders. Many of these dogs have once been much loved pets. Some people say the dogs don't know any different. THESE dogs DO. They have been in loving warm homes, with loving families and they end up in a pile, tied and gagged waiting to be tortured, and eaten.
Some dog farms also hire local gangs, to drive around neighborhoods and steal people's pet dogs. They round them up and take them straight to the markets within 6-8 hours for killing and selling. They do this quick, often before the owners realise, e.g. if they are at work, and then by the time the owners are home, their beloved pet dog has probably been tortured and is on someone's dinner plate across town. They do this cycle fast so the owners cannot prove anything for prosecution. Not that prosectution works, as often police officers and officials are involved in the trade, and cover many things up in exchange for free dog meat for their families.

People are advised in Korea not to keep dogs as pets as they are likely to be stolen, yet they still do. You can't blame people who dont eat dog meat for wanting one as a pet, yet they are under constant risk of losing their furry friend. Can you even begin to imagine what it would be like if these things happened in the UK?

This barbaric, sick and un-needed trade needs to be stopped by this scum, who find animal cruelty fun. According to the IDA 2 million dogs are mutilated in South Korea every year.

Cats are also eaten but this isn't as common, although it is estimated that 1 million cats are tortured and eaten there each year. Usually the cats are boiled alive, up to 6 cats at a time, as the Koreans BELEIVE that the juice extracted from the screaming bodies is good for medicinal purposes (This has never been proven).

Many organisations have been battling for years to try and stop this trade but to no avail. Peta, International aid for Korean Animals, the IDa to name a few, but most of these have got hardly anywhere, as the trade is still ongoing. There are petitions and ways to help on all of the following sites, look at your own dog at home, please dont ignore their doggy friends in South Korea, just go and sign the petition. It may not stop it, but at least you have done something, if only a little.

I apologise if this isn't about Korea in general, but I feel it is. This trade is as common as us finding beef on our market stalls, and therefor I cannot ever go to Korea while this is happening. I won't give them my tourism money and I can't handle seeing the cats and dogs. I feel that this is a subject that is ignored as people can't handle it, and it is easier to be in denial about it, rather than face it.

In the time it has taken you to read this review, 3 dogs have been tortured, mutilated and killed in South Korea.

Useful links:
http://www.koreananimals.org/
http://www.seoulsearching.com/DogMeat.html
http://www.peta.org/feat/korea/

Summary: Disgusting