Posted on 06/30/2002 5:51:46 AM PDT by csvset
Dog meat hot among Korea and China's trendy young
Animal-rights activists say it is a food fad fuelled in part by a desire to rebel against Western criticism
By Ng Hui Hui
CANINE cuisine is becoming a fad among the young in South Korea and China, much to the dismay of animal-rights activists.
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| The cruelty in the handling of dogs during their slaughter has raised the ire of animal-rights activists. Strung by their necks, the dogs are beaten to death. |
Restaurant owners and dog-meat watchers confirm that youngsters are now taking dog meat as part of their regular diet - much like beef or chicken - as food joints dish out trendy new recipes to whet appetites.
According to one estimate, 92 per cent of men and 68 per cent of women above 20 in South Korea have tasted dog meat recently.
In China, dog breeders are saying that in a few years, there will be as many Saint Bernard dogs on the mainland as cows and sheep.(?)
Although past data on dog-meat consumption is not available, those concerned say the numbers would have been low earlier - since dog meat was considered a type of tonic for the older generation, eaten to increase libido and treat illnesses.
Catering to the fad, on sale now are hotdogs with real dog meat, dog cookies and sandwiches and even dog noodles as restaurants come up with fast-food variations.
Traditional recipes such as kimchi, a spicy fermented vegetable dish, are being given a make- over and are now prepared with dog meat extracts.
Dog meat chefs hope to add more varieties soon.
South Korean nutritionist Ahn Young Geun, who wrote a book titled Koreans and Dogmeat, has come up with more than 350 new recipes.
The professor, who is often referred to as Dr Dogmeat, believes dog-meat consumption should be increased because it offers three times more calcium than other types of meat.
Besides the nutritional value, nationalistic pride seems to be playing a part, said Ms Kyenan Kum, founder of the animal-rights group International Aid for Korean Animals.
About 2.6 million dogs are killed yearly for food in South Korea, Mr Louis Ng, president of Singapore-based Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), told The Sunday Times.
This is a 30 per cent increase over the 1993 figures.
'Eating dog meat is a show of defiance, especially among rebellious young people. They feel that the West has no right to criticise their culture,' he said.
Reflecting this sentiment, a group of students from Seoul University set up a website recently to promote the virtues of dog meat and secured 11,000 signatures in support of its campaign.
But it is the cruelty in the handling of dogs - man's best friend in the West - that is raising hackles among animal-rights activists.
Dogs are usually strung up by their necks and beaten repeatedly to increase the flow of adrenaline in their flesh. Consumers believe the more pain the animals suffer, the more tender the meat becomes.
The dogs would struggle, howl, urinate and bleed till they become unconscious. Finally, they are chopped into pieces. All these are done in front of other dogs awaiting the same fate.
Now, for the first time, an Asian grouping called Asia Link - made up of 14 animal welfare societies from 12 nations - has decided to join the protest and has sent a letter to the South Korean government urging a ban on dog meat.
Said Mr Ng of Acres, an Asia Link member: 'The Koreans say eating dog meat is part of their culture, but one cannot use culture to justify violence.'
Mounting criticisms made South Korea and China ban the trade for short periods in 1988 and 1999 respectively. But that has not kept South Koreans and Chinese from hankering for their dog burgers and dog noodles.
KOREAN CUISINE: Dog dishes
New dishes:
To each his own. Bon apetit!
And don't start spreading propaganda about how she got it from China during the Han Dynasty either... LOL
[ducking back out before I get depressed]
Sounds like you are more Chinese than any other average Chinese. I bet you no more than 1 out of 10,000 Chinese dare to eat insects. Personally I hate to see people eating wild animals, which now is illegal in many parts of China. As for cruelty, you will know it if you try to eat monkey in Guangdong. If you try monkey soup, you will find a monkey hand appears in the bowl like a human baby hand. I believe the business is illegal now and goes underground.
China has its fair share too mind you...especially around Shanghai...
Of course in all places you gotta look around a little to find them, but there are a few...
I completely agree GBA. I consider man and dog to be symbiant beings.
We don't torture them first.
Hey, Korean girls are in no way can compete with Chinese girls. You sound like a countryman, or someone who have been in jail for 10 year.
The food dogs they sell are raised in dog farms.
Are you talking about before or after they get to the pound?
Its a novelty thing I think... to eat that stuff...
Its not like people wake up in the morning looking for a box of crunchy fried scorpions and a spoon...
Noodles, eggs, chicken, beef, fish, dumplings, and hamburgers are the most popular from what I've seen. And who can leave out pizza and KFC...
I'm single, I admit it...
Better that they end up as a useful protein source than as a waste of space.
Too bad not everyone is going to see it that way.
Just so so. Seriously. Compared with Chinese girls, I would give her 3 on a 1 to 5 scale. Her skin is too dark to be any beauty by Asian standard. Her eyes are too small and her mouth is too big, which makes it difficult for her find a boy who is willing to date her.
Stay Safe FS.........BTTT !
I'll volunteer to take on that hardship duty.
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