One of the most difficult things for Westerners to accept about life in Korea, and some other Asian countries, is the custom of eating dog meat. For many Westerners, just thinking about it makes them feel “nauseated” while in Korea, dog meat is a sacred culinary tradition.
According to WSJ, the dog meat industry in South Korea slaughters an average of 2.5 million dogs a year, serving 20,000 restaurants across the country, and earning about $2 billion. It is also estimated that 100,000 tons of dog meat are consumed annually, of which about 93,600 tons are used to produce a health supplement called “gaeoju”.
Cultural differences between countries are often very conflicting and difficult to resolve. Regarding the issue of dog meat, opponents say that eating dog meat is “condemnable” because dogs are not only pets but also close friends, even family members.
Despite the controversy, this year's "boknal" marks an important milestone in the journey towards a more humane Korean society towards animals. In Korea, "boknal" refers to the hottest period of summer, consisting of three days representing the time frame: chobok (the beginning of the hot season), joongbok (the middle of the hot season) and malbok (the end of the hot season). This year, the first "boknal" - chobok - falls on July 15.
Dog meat consumption in South Korea has been controversial for years.
During these three “boknal” days, Koreans typically eat energy-boosting, nutrient-rich foods to combat the summer heat. Bosintang (dog meat soup) and samgyetang (ginseng chicken stew) are two popular dishes enjoyed during these days, pushing dog meat consumption to its peak. Some traditional medicine stores also offer gaesoju, a drink made from herbs and dog meat that is said to be a health tonic.
However, recently, the Korean dog meat consumption market has become increasingly gloomy due to the government's ban on dog meat trading.
South Korea has begun to develop legal frameworks to curb the practice of dog meat consumption. In 2007, the South Korean National Assembly passed the Animal Protection Act, which made it illegal to trade and slaughter dogs for meat. After the law was passed, South Korean authorities began to crack down on and punish those who brutally torture, abuse, and kill domestic animals, especially dogs.
The battle to protect and eliminate dog meat from Korean culture is extremely difficult.
Along with legal sanctions, South Korea has also stepped up its campaign to encourage people to say “no” to dog meat. A recent survey by the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture found that only about 30% of the country’s population still eats dog meat, and 59% of young Koreans under 30 have never eaten dog meat. Of these, 62% said that dogs are pets, not food, and that eating dog meat is an “outdated culture” that should be eliminated.
