Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mzeno]

People eat animals. That's a fact. Big animals, small animals, ugly animals, cute animals. Hell, in the not so distant past, people even ate other people! So I'm not going to argue with you about your right to kill an animal -any animal - for food. But when it comes to the methods and manner of raising and killing that animal, there is much to discuss.
I love Korea. I love the food, the people, the 'excellent' bus, and the KTX. I do not know of another country with a higher level of service, hospitality, and quality of life, for such a large majority of its citizens. I'm happy to be here for as long as I'm useful. However, one thing I do not understand about Korea, and hope never to understand, is the sadistic and medieval torture and abuse of dogs prior to their slaughter for food. Again, dogs are animals, and people eat animals. I get that. But there's nothing you can tell me that will convince me that this cruel practice is normal or necessary. It's blatant sadism, and its truly a horror to see and to hear.
I wanted to think that this practice was something that only happened in strange, faraway places in Korea, and that it was on the decline and on its way out. But my experience suggests that dogs are still a very popular menu item here, and that they are still being commercially raised and butchered in the most thoughtless and unkind ways imaginable.

I'd like to hear about your experience as it relates to this topic.

What have you seen? What have you heard? How have you dealt with it?

(Please try to avoid the use of racist language and implications)

[crisdean]

I can't say I noticed many Dog soup (보신탕, I think that's the hangul for it, been a while since I've actually seen a sign) places in Ilsan, and thus far haven't seen any around my new place in Seoul (Gwanak-gu), but they were everywhere in Gimpo. Of course Gimpo is a far more rural locale away from the sensitive eyes of most foreigners, which is probably why they were more prevelent there.

I've heard a lot of rumours that the dogs are tortured before they're killed, with the explaining being that it produces high level of adrenaline in the dog, which improves the taste/makes it better for you. But personally, I doubt that these are much more than rumours, or references to historical practice.

As for the "farming" and butching of them, well, why is it such a horrible thing to do this to specific breeds of a dogs and not sheep, cattle, goats, geese, ducks, chickens, etc...? The production of Foie Gras is ridiculously inhumane, but it's delicious, and heavily entrenched in French culture/cuisine. Are you going to tell people they can't eat it anymore? Same goes for dog meat, and it's fantastic by the way, it's part of the culture.

The slaughter of any animal, whether it be farmed or wild game, is not particularly pleasant. But have a little faith in Korea that the circumstances of these dogs is no worse than that of cattle or pigs.

[ekimswish]

I hear they beat the dogs to death with a stick to make the meat softer or something. Like the way they massage Kobe beef (?) only it's no massage.

[Gibberish]

[redaxe]

Oh, we're doing this one again?

[Janny]

[Janny]

[aimeecate]

It is still common practice to kill dogs inhumanely. For example this is the story of a dog who escaped and was rescued:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=32688534976

I volunteer at an animal shelter. At least I feel like I can help some Korean dogs that way. I have also adopted a dog here.

When I was taking my dog home from the shelter we got her from I saw a dog meat truck. It was full of barking dogs, caged together like chickens. I've now given up eating meat all together.

[coralreefer_1]

Honestly, I do not believe this practice is as widespread as some believe. Videos like the few mentioned of youtube do a good job of taking an incident that surely happens more than once, though not a widespread practice, and turning it into what some would call a national passion.

While it appears to be true that beating/torturing the animal is believed to enhance the curative aspects of the meat, I do not believe this is being done by as large numbers of people. I typically see trucks with these dogs loaded in the back..you know...rusty iron cages...several animals that look similar....etc. I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that these animals are being driven to a slaughterhouse, at which the people there may be beating/butchering the animal. I don't believe there are many random people out there doing it themselves as the videos on youtube would lead many to believe.

Also it should be pointed out that the term for the dog soup I mainly have seen is (boshintang 보신탕) The term "boshin" refers to an idea of preserving oneself and taking care of the body. While it is widely believed that dog-meat may do this, a restaurant that advertises "boshintang" may not be serving dog meat at all, but rather other meats/veggies that are believed to offer curative/preventative effects. You can walk over to your frozen food case at e-mart and buy a frozen "boshin" pack..consisting mainly of cow/ox tail. Put this in a pot and throw in random veggies and other ingredients and you will be making "boshintang" at home.

All of that said, I had to take the opportunity to try this once (what was supposed to be dog). At the restaurant with my Korean friend, I had to wonder to myself if the ajumma actually used dog, or took the opportunity to save a bit of cash by using beef instead and serving me a 9,000 won "dog" soup that was actually a 3,000 won "beef" soup.

I would imagine that there are many places that are doing such things similar to the way a menu may advertise it serves domestic beef/pork/rice..etc, while it actually uses cheaper imports. Illegal or course, but since the mad-cow thing has died down...who is really checking on these places anyway....

[itaewonguy]

the western world has moved on.. Korea/china, japan hasn't
give them time, they are still trying to become 1st world citizens.. once the generation changes and all the people who are now 50 die off.. korea will be a brand new place.. but the old people who are still running this place are stuck in their traditional ways..

Dogs shouldn't be killed for food because Humans have taking them as pets
because they have emotions which we can see and feel and that is where the line is crossed compared to pigs, cows and chickens..

Dogs have earned their way away from the cooking pot!

so we have laws to protect them now!

Korea hasn't moved on yet!
and thats another reason why Korea is still not a 1st world people..

[CapnSamwise]

GRANDPA GET OFF THE COMPUTER.

YOU ARE GOING TO HURT YOURSELF DID YOU REMEMBER YOUR METAMUCIL? LOOK YOU ARE GOING TO MISS YOUR MATLOCK.

[jiberish]

I knew a guy who workied next to a dog farm. He said the sound of them beating them was horrible. He often went home when they started, the k-teachers said it was ok because they felt embarrased.

[PeterDragon]

[Gaber]

[mc_jc]