South Korean canine farm owners attack President Yoon’s wife for trying to ‘end’ dog meat consumption
- A group representing canine meat farm owners said banning dog consumption simply because an increasing number of people hate that culture is illogical
- The response came after first lady Kim Keon-hee said it was her ‘duty’ to end tradition of eating dogs before Yoon’s tenure comes to a close
The group claimed Kim, who is neither a president nor a lawmaker, should maintain neutrality as the role of the first lady is supporting the president.
“Siding with animal rights groups, which are interest groups, and calling for banning dog meat consumption is obvious political activity that exceeds her authority,” the group said in its statement on Thursday.
“I will try to put an end to dog meat consumption before the tenure of this government ends. I think that is my duty,” she said during her lunch with officials from animal rights groups, including Kara, on April 12.
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After the remarks were reported through the media, both ruling and opposition parties appeared to support Kim.
Lawmaker Tae Yong-ho of the ruling People Power Party proposed a bill outlawing the butchery and sale of dog and cat meat on April 14. A day earlier, lawmaker Kim Min-seok, the chief policymaker of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, also said his party will push to enact a special law banning dog meat consumption.
The owners said the rival parties as well as the first lady are neglecting people working in the dog meat industry, claiming that their remarks and action are an attempt to woo voters at a time when increasing numbers of people are living with companion animals in the country.
The group said banning dog consumption simply because an increasing number of people hate that culture is illogical.
“By that logic, if an increasing number of people hate Buddhism or Christianity, then the government can remove that religion,” the group said. “Different religions coexist in this country. The Constitution also bans majorities from curtailing the liberties of minorities. Talking about social consensus only for dog meat is against the Constitution.”
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The group said it will hold a press conference in front of the presidential office in Yongsan next Tuesday to criticise the first lady for attempting to “take people’s rights to eat away.”
The first lady has openly supported a ban on all types of dog meat consumption.
During her interview with a vernacular newspaper in June last year, she said South Korea and China are the only countries among big economies where people eat dog meat.
At the time, she said the issue can be solved through policies by, for example, supporting people working in the dog meat industry to change jobs.
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President Yoon, who once said eating dogs was a matter of personal choice, later changed his position and pledged to work to ban dog meat consumption during his election campaigning.
While societal attitudes towards animals are shifting in modern South Korea and with a high proportion of the population keeping dogs as domestic pets, the country’s infamous dog farms and dog meat restaurants are still operating.
