Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dude Love]

I'm thinking about becoming a vegetarian. I know how awful animals that become food are treated in N. America. What about here? How are chickens, cows, pigs and sea animals treated in Korea before they become food?

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

I somehow doubt they're patted and stroked gently. Brain-bolt seems likely, unless you're a dog, then it's being tortured and burned.

The whole concept of humane killing is bizarre.

Sparkles*_*

[peppermint]

Animals, even pets aren't really treated that well here. (I don't consider dying dog's ears flourescent orange humane )

Korea is not the easiest place to be a vegetarian, it can limit your social life considerably- if you let it. I've been here for 2 years and vegetarian for 7, so if you need any advice, feel free to send me a pm.

[tsgarp]

From what I've seen animals are usually treated with the utmost care. They are marinated in delicious sauces, broiled at tableside, and generally enjoyed with a relish. The birds are sometimes stuffed with sticky rice and ginseng to ensure health and the fish are always filleted with presentation in mind. I love animals and I hope one day to be able to enjoy manatee.

[rapier]

The worst traetment of animals that I've actually seen amounts to people tethering dogs outside on a short lead all day long, and getting taunted by passers by..or maybe kids carrying around hamsters or crabs in bags all day, or handling them roughly.. also seen the performing chimp routine on the streets of seoul.
I'm more interested in how they treat their wild animals/birds- sadly a lot of habitat is being lost due to building and development. The exploitation and huntting of wild animals has ceased- because there are none left....

[Mr. Pink]

As far as fish goes, if you really want GOOD quality stuff, live in a town that is a coastal town. Seriously, I wonder how good the stuff is on the Seoul streets, as it just sits out there, dust, pollution etc can get on it.

In the coastal towns, you can get it FRESH - meaning alive.

Chicken here is probably treated the same as anywhere.

Cows seem to be treated a little better, and ironically domestic beef is almost twice the cost of imported beef.

I personally can't understand people who don't eat meat or fish...but if i was worried like you, I would probably be living in Seocko enjoying the fish on a daily basis.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Kwangjuchicken]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

Animals might be treated differently in different places. When I lived in Mexico, everything was free range-- animals wandered around on the street and cars seemed to stop for chickens on the road. There may be small towns in Korea where animals are equally free. Space being at a premium in the big cities, animals are probably jammed into small spaces. Koreans seem to treat animals as property, so if there are places where they are well-treated, this is most certainly by default and not because Koreans value their feelings.

I don't think this would be an easy country to be a veg in, although there is a good supply of tofu and beans and soy products.

Ken:>

[Kwangjuchicken]

[quote="Mr. Pink"]

Chicken here is probably treated the same as anywhere.quote]

Yes, unfortunately.

[Kwangjuchicken]

[Real Reality]

Dogs electrocuted en route to Korean dinner tables
At the slaughterhouse, about 20 to 30 dogs are killed every day. They are bred and reared elsewhere. After electrocution, each dead dog is soaked in a tank of scalding water, sodden paws periodically rolling over the side as the abattoir worker dunks and turns the carcass. The worker hauls the animal out of the water and tosses it with a dull thud into a rotating drum like a table-top spin-dryer to remove the animal's coat. Next, a blowtorch is used to scorch the animals' skin on a raised grill, in a process intended to make the meat more tender. Finally, before the carcass is gutted and cut up, it is vigorously scrubbed on the floor to remove the blackened layer from what is still discernibly a dog, its limbs and tail made taut by burning. At a nearby dogmeat restaurant, customers shrug off protests and readily dig in to dishes of green vegetables and dogmeat.
Shanghai Star March 14, 2002 http://app1.chinadaily.com.cn/star/2002/0314/fe19-2.html

Supporters of Korean restaurants which serve dog meat are threatening to cripple internet sites of leading Western media companies, whom they accuse of making insulting comments about the century-old tradition of eating dog. "South Korean culture is under attack," said the organisers of one local website who have vowed to paralyse the site of US media giant Warner Brothers and that of French state television channels.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1755535.stm

The campaigners from the US-based group Peta - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - say they have documented cases in which dogs and cats are beaten, hung or boiled alive to extract their juice in tonic drinks - thought to enhance health and sexual virility. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2016028.stm

From Dog Farm to Soup Bowl
http://www.koreananimals.org/dogs_p18.htm

Cats stack up while waiting to be skinned
http://www.koreananimals.org/cats_p3.htm

Dog Meat Festival (October 3, 2003)
http://www.seoulsearching.com/Oct3.html

Pets in South Korea
http://www.seoulsearching.com/livinginseoul/pets.html

South Korean Pet Dog Ownership Increasing
To cater to the approximately 1.75 million pet dogs in South Korea, a number of businesses have been created during the last few years. Coats, beds and portraits are readily available throughout the country, and in Seoul, six different "dog cafes" that serve shredded chicken, beef jerky and other kinds of food can be found.
http://www.anc.org/pets/pets_archive_article.cfm?identifier=2002_0111_korea

DeliciousDogs.com
Because, let's face it, dogs are GOOD FOOD!
For as long as anyone can remember, dogs have not only been man's best friend, but they also been man's best meal.
http://www.deliciousdogs.com/

[tsgarp]

If you could eat any exotic animal, what would it be? I've already stated manatee. They float in water, eat veggies all day and swim very slowly. It seems like the meat should be very tender and not gamey at all. I'd also like to try any number of antelope but not gnu. Gnus just look nasty but an impala, that's gotta be good. Sea turtles had a great reputation with sailors or old and anytime I see porcupine on a nature show I get curious. It's gotta be tasty under all them quills, why else would a lynx risk getting stuck to get to it?

[wylde]