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Will South Korea's New President Ban Dog Meat?

Will South Korea's New President Ban Dog Meat?

Will South Korea's New President Ban Dog Meat?

Now that he is the president of the people, will he be a president for the animals? Many animal activists believe so and have put their faith in him.

Moon Jae-in, South Korea's new president, expressed these inspiring words during his speech at Gwanghwamun, “My beloved citizens, I have not forgotten the wishes and pleas that you all have expressed...I will strive to make a brand new nation. I will be a president that Koreans can be proud of.”

Moon is an animal companion guardian himself, with one dog and two cats, and he has promised a better life for animals as have the other competing presidential candidates. They have incorporated animal welfare issues into their platforms to woo the growing number people concerned about animals in their country prior to the election.

The government data for 2015 showed that 21.8 percent of Korean households (10 million people) have lived with an animal companion. The 2015 "pet" industry was worth at $1.58 billion USD with future expected growth to be threefold by 2020.

Dog meat consumption and trade is a hot button issue within South Korea and internationally. Polls and statistics show that the majority of Koreans want the dog and cat meat trade banned, while many older generations, the biggest consumers of dog meat, do not. The largest consumption of dog meat stew, bosingtang, occurs during the hot weather season due to a belief that it cools the body and gives it vitality.

Moon did not include a dog meat consumption ban in his official manifesto and reserved his answer when asked, however, when questioned by a local newspaper, HanbookIlbo, his camp declared it had agreed to forbid it in stages.

On his animal welfare issues, Moon promises to set up more playgrounds for pets, to promote adoption of abandoned animals, to expand spay and neutering for population control and to establish more feeding facilities for feral cats. He also included standardizing medical costs for animals.

We have another promise that we will hold President Moon to. That is that Tory, a homeless mutt will become the Korea’s First Dog. During President’s Moon meeting with animal rights groups during his 60-day presidential campaign, Moon was asked if he would be Tory’s new guardian. President Moon responded that he would if elected, and would welcome him to the presidential residence.

This is a significant gesture and represents hopes on three levels for Koreans. Tory was rescued from slaughter two years ago and he is a mutt living in an animal shelter. Koreans on the whole are into purebred dogs and adoptions of shelter dogs, especially mutts, are very low. Did we mention Tory was a dog meat survivor?

We all have high hopes for the new president. In Defense of Animals, along with activists and other organizations, will be watching his actions and demanding positive change for South Korea's animals.

To read more about Moon and the other candidates' stances on the dog meat trade and animal welfare issues from an article from before the race was decided, click here.

 

 

 

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