Georgie Topp is an animal rights activist who has visited the notorious Moran dogmeat markets.  Here is her account of what she witnessed firsthand.

Moran markets are about a 1 hour trip on the subway from downtown Seoul. Exit #5. While working in Seoul I used the opportunity to visit one of the most infamous Korean dog meat markets.

Moran Markets are held 4 to 5 times a month.  The streets are busy with squatting street vendors selling their wares and produce along with grey robed monks walking the streets.

The low building on the right housed a long row of shops selling dog meat and dog meat stew – known as “Boshintang.” Out the front of each shop were glass display counters stacked full of what I quickly recognised as dog meat; the paws and rump shapes easily distinguishable from other types of meats. These encounters occurred at regular intervals as I walked along – maybe 6 to 8 encounters every 200 metres. Feeling conspicuous as the only westerner I expected looks of suspicion of my presence there. I didn’t feel welcome.

Swinging left and deeper into the market stretched stalls selling more clothes, more fish, medicinal herbs with great mounds of garlic stacked waist deep.

The rear of the markets held the ‘livestock’ area. The faecal stench was over powering on what was a very hot day. A variety of animals were for sale.  Ducks, chickens and other birds were crammed into small cages, their beaks open with laboured breathing in the heat. I saw a strofoam box 3 layers deep of yellow chicks and I also saw a small group of black goats huddled together.

Along a fence, chained at various intervals, were large sized dogs of various breeds obviously waiting sale for meat purposes. I priced one of these larger dogs, $100 US. I couldn’t bring myself to ask if this was the butchered price or not. The dogs seemed timid and frightened of me when I approached them. I didn’t see any signs of dog beating. Nor did I see any dog butchering but I suspected this was carried out in the lane around the corner.

Another astounding area was the ‘puppy’ area. Small ‘lap’ dogs are becoming popular pets amongst Seoul residents who live primarily in large apartment style housing. There were rows and rows of stalls with small puppies for sale, some partially shaved or wearing ridiculous bows, clips and gold chains. I suppose this was meant to improve their aesthetic sale value. I wondered about the fate of these puppies for sale. They would soon outgrow their cute sale appeal as it seemed unlikely to me then and now that many of these puppies would find homes to go to. In amongst this were small cages crammed full of miserable cats. I was later told by one of my Korean work colleagues that cats were considered unclean in Korean society.

Conditions for animals at these markets are sad and miserable. Right through from crammed cages of thirsty animals to large plastic buckets teaming with fish, writhing in the lowly oxygenated air, and tubs of soft-shelled tortoises.

Leaving the markets via the side streets I passed restaurants with pictures of dogs on the window and a sign reading, “The House Specialty”. I can only conclude by saying the dog meat trade is a sad reflection on Korean society.

Abolish the Dog meat markets and Cat Juice Industry of South Korea:

In South Korea, over 3 million dogs and cats are tortured, killed, and eaten each year. Despite the disclaimers of scientists, many Koreans continue to believe that dog-meat stew (boshintang) enhances male virility, and that cat juice (goyangi soju) eases rheumatism.

The plight of these animals is unimaginable cruelty and death. Raised in rural farms or urban backyards, dogs spend their entire lives in cramped wire cages where they suffer from dehydration and hunger, exposure to the elements, unsanitary conditions, and abuse. They are dragged from their cages and deliberately tortured to death. Most dogs are hung, bludgeoned with pipes and hammers, or electrocuted. A blowtorch is used to burn the hair off and brown the skin, sometimes while the dog is still alive. Kyenan and Sunnan Kum (Korean Animal Protection Society and International Aid for Korean Animals) are two sisters making progress in addressing the plight of Korea’s dog-meat trade and cat juice industry.

They have taken on the daunting task to provide care for needy animals in Korea. Both sisters have worked for over ten years to persuade the Korean government to revise, strengthen and enforce the Korean Animal Protection Law of 1991 so as to explicitly prohibit the killing of dogs and cats for food and the sale of these animals for this purpose.

Korea’s Illegal Dog-meat Trade:

These violent methods of killing are thought to both tenderise the flesh and improve its aphrodisiac qualities by stimulating the release of adrenaline. The more the dog suffers, the more flavourful the meat is thought to be.

The Cat Juice Industry:

Wild cats are trapped in wire cages and killed by being placed in a sack and pounded against the ground, while domesticated cats are often dropped alive into a cauldron of boiling water and liquefied. They are cooked with ginger, dates and chestnuts to make the mythical cat juice cure for rheumatism.

Please Don’t Turn Your Backs on the Cats and Dogs of Korea:

It is important that we rally together to protest these abuses. Then we will be able to make effective change. Through international protests the Korean government passed the Animal Protection Law in 1991. They’ll do it again if international pressure demands that South Korea ends its torture, slaughter and consumption of dogs and cats.

How You Can Help:

• Educate  yourself. Talk to friends and family about the issue. Become involved.

• Protest letters are a very effective means of voicing your objections to animal cruelty, and of helping to effect important change. For a list of Korean government officials, please contact us by mail, email or phone.

• Visit the website at www.koreananimals.org

• Do you know of any schools, universities or organisations which would benefit from a talk on the dog-meat and cat juice industry? Contact the Abolitionist-Online to arrange a visit – no minimum numbers required.

• Please consider making a gift donation to IAKA/KAPS via their Australian office. It will help us to further continue to provide a sanctuary for the Korean dogs and cats.

• A bequest means that 100% of your money goes directly to Korea’s rescued dogs and cats.

• Come to our fundraising dinners. They are fun and provide desperately needed funds for the building of this first ever outdoor sanctuary.

• Join our email list to stay in touch.

• Flex your consumer muscle. Contact South Korean businesses in Australia such as Hyundai Motors, Samsung and LG Electronics to register your protest.

• Be creative. Do you have ideas on how to raise funds for IKAPS? Arranging a walkathon, contacting advertisers for free ads, taking up a collection at work, running a stall in your local community – contact us and we can help you.

• Boycott South Korea as a holiday destination and let the Korean Consulate know why.

Brick by Brick, let’s make it happen:

Our vision is to assist in building a new, permanent animal care sanctuary in South Korea that will serve as both a shelter for abandoned, abused, and rescued animals and a national education centre.

Contact Us

Australia

“It is monstrous what is happening in Korea and other parts of Asia to companion animals. It is our most urgent task to provide international pressure on countries that have abandoned their duty to treat man’s best friend with love and respect.”

- Claudette Vaughan, IAWA’s  Australian representative

America

South Korea