Do they eat Dog in South Korea? This is a question I have been asked many a times and a topic I really wanted to talk about. But I did not want to write about it blindly and promote a myth rather than seeking the truth. Well, the truth I did seek and found my friends.
I had little information about dog eating in South Korea until I spoke with one of the Korean teachers here at my school and two gentlemen from Europe. I was observing the Korean teacher’s class as part of my training when the topic of pets came up. He then hinted that dogs are more than just pets in Korea. This was my opportunity to ask the question.
Are dogs eaten in South Korea? I asked. He said, “yes and no”. He continued, “there are special farms for a special breed of dog that is eaten. The dog is fed nutritious foods and is well taken care of for this reason. Although it is a delicacy, three out of every five people in Korea will tell you that they eat or have eaten dog”. He asked me if I would eat dog. I said not knowingly. This brings me to the two guys I met in Seoul.
We were having a casual conversation about how the food in Korea was healthy and rare. It is rare in the sense that you would not find most of the food being consumed here on a menu in Europe or North America. Does pig intestine, liver, cow stomach, or eyes sound good to you? Anyhow, one of the guys said he had dog meat. So I asked him how it tasted. He said it was very fatty, but tasty and not gamey at all. He said it was sweet, somewhat like ham, but had lots of fat. “I enjoyed it”, he added. The other was nodding in agreement while he told me this and I assumed his opinion was the same.
Brigitte Bardot, French actress and animal activist once wrote a letter to the Korean president complaining about dog eating. Sorry Mrs. Bartow, it continues.
Where do you stand on this topic? I am interested in hearing what you think, food source or pet?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow young Zimmerman!!!! You didn’t make an attempt to taste ‘dog meat’? I wonder if all dog meat is fatty or just the ones that they raise on the dog farms? Still I know it is an experience and all but their has to be a line drawn or does it? I find myself being very hypocritical when someone says “I could never eat a dog” But we eat turkey, pig feet, ribs, chicken, cows, etc so I say what is the difference? It seems with the mad ‘cow’ disease, bird ‘flu’ and now swine ‘flu’ the dog is the healthiest animal right now. I am not saying it is something Americans or myself should adopt, but maybe it is something to think about. But you have to ask yourself at the end of the day would you eat this “special dog” I would say no myself.
One last comment, you ask food source or pet. Well I am terrified of animals so that rules out the pet part, and I don’t know how I would feel about asking the waiter for a doggy bag lol
dude i wanna come visit im in need of some serious culture in my life lol…im absolutely fascinated. i mean im not judging i fully understand different cultures have different acceptable norms but i dont think i could ever eat a dog. a good looking beautful dog i couldnt eat cuz id feel like it was wrong and a dirty ragged looking dog i wouldnt wanna eat anyways. put some more videos up i wanna see more!
Yes, first of all, some people do eat dog. But at the same time I find it horribly hypocritical to eat pigs, which are just as intelligent as dogs, and then denounce Koreans for eating dog. What’s the different? The difference is that in one place, it’s widely accepted, in another, it’s not.
As for cruelty to dogs, if dog eating wasn’t banned it would be regulated, leading to humane treatment of dogs. It’s ironic that anti-dog eating protests lead to harsher treatment of dogs. Let people eat dogs if they want to, it’s horribly arrogant to tell them no.
Thanks much for that imformative post.
Would it be horribly arrogant to tell another culture NO to eating humans? what is ok and not ok to eat? I will give you my opinion, I feel it is wrong to eat dogs because I could not look one in the eyes and kill it for food. I could however kill a chicken no problem which I feel means I’m not full of it. Dont eat what you cant kill. As children we are taught dogs are pets and therefor it is seen as cruel to harm them. Dogs are loyal, loving and in my religion have a place in heaven. It is my belief that dogs are not for food but companionship. I would also like to add that there is no need for name calling just because people have different oppinions.
Would you like for someone to eat you Louise? Or is that arrogant of me to ask?
A point well made Dake. But, should what we eat be based on its intelligence? I see your point however. We cannot denounce or judge a culture because it does not align with our own. What is unacceptable in one culture may bein another correct?