Are Pets Replacing Children in South Korea?

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June 7, 2013, 9:00 AM

Are Pets Replacing Children in South Korea?

By Steven Borowiec

When Shin Ye-eun, 33, is not working at her job at an international clothing company, she spends much of her time with Betty, her three-year-old English bulldog. The unmarried, childless Ms. Shin feels a maternal sort of love for her dog.

Courtesy

Shin Ye-eun and her dog, Betty.

“I love her like my child. She is my child, and I know she knows that,” she said.

The number of pet owners in South Korea recently passed 10 million, or about one in five people, for the first time. The increase in pet ownership is taking place while fewer South Koreans are getting married and having children, and some analysts suggest the two phenomena are related.

In South Korea, factors such as the high cost of raising and educating children and intense competition for top white-collar jobs have resulted in more adults staying single for longer and having fewer children when they do wed. More South Koreans of child-rearing age appear to be turning their nurturing instincts towards pets.

A report released on May 12 by the Nonghyup Economic Research Institute found that total private expenditure by South Koreans on pet supplies has increased by an average of 14.3% per year since 2000.

“People have started to think of their pets as family members, which was unusual before, so they want to take care of their pets as they would their family. That’s what has triggered the increase in the consumption of pet products,” said Park Jong-won, a professor at Korea University.

A growing industry of pet care products and services has sprung up to meet the new demand.

Kim Bo-kyung runs an online pet store and says her business is booming, particularly sales of pet accessories. An online debate broke out a few months ago when some retailers began selling carts for dogs that closely resemble baby strollers. Some felt that pets were being too humanized.

“Nowadays we’re selling so many of the strollers we can barely keep them in stock,” said Ms. Kim.

The increase in pet ownership, including dogs, comes as the consumption of dog meat in South Korea appears to be waning, particularly among the younger generation. Accurate data are hard to come by because the industry operates in a legal gray area, but activists are encouraged by changing perceptions of the role of animals in Korean society.

“By providing companionship to people, dogs have come to occupy a special place in our society. If, for example, pigs were to evolve into being pets for people, then it would be natural that we would stop eating them, too,” said Park So-youn, president of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth.

The dog meat industry is not likely to disappear completely anytime soon, but moving ahead, dogs and other pets seem set to become fixtures in the lives of even more South Koreans.

Ms. Shin says she has no plans to have children, but is considering owning another dog.

–Steven Borowiec is a freelance journalist based in Seoul.

http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2013/06/07/are-pets-replacing-children-in-south-korea/

Animals and Pets Culture in Korea    

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Pets in Korea:
Owning pets is a relatively new phenomenon in Korea. Previously, animals had a very utilitarian purpose in people’s lives – they were workers or food. As the society industrialized and became wealthier, disposable income became the norm for a growing number of Koreans. And the pet industry entered a boom period.

As of the 1990’s, it became a common site to see women carrying small dogs, with faux gem collars, top knots and tail tips dyed pink, lime green, etc. in their purses or in their arms. The dogs accompanied their owners everywhere, including restaurants, supermarkets, etc. There was a perceived distinction between these pampered darlings and their larger brethren, many of whom continued to be viewed from a strictly utilitarian perspective.

However, interest in the companionship of these larger breeds also began to grow among the population, especially as the ‘well-being’ concept took hold and people who, contrary to their parents or grandparents, were now leading sedentary lives, began to consider the health benefits of exercise, including walking their dogs.

Many working dogs are trained to perform various tasks such as helping the blind or disabled, sniffing out contraband or drugs, animal therapy for eldery, autistic or emotionally trouble people, etc. Dogs are also eaten in Korean, as they are in a number of other countries, and this continues to be a very controversial issue here. 

Expats coming to live and work in Korea for a period of time can be assured that veterinary care is readily available for both large and small dogs. There are boarding kennels that specialise in housing large breeds with almost all vets providing accomodations for small and even sometimes, large dogs. The percentage of Koreans owning dogs is fast approaching the ratio in my Western countries.

Attitudes towards cats:
As is the case in many Asian countries, cats have not been much like in Korea. They are still seen as vermin by many or even as deliverers of bad fortune. In recent years, a small but growing number of Koreans have begun keeping cats as pets. Cats can be found in Korea because they were useful in controlling rats and as 'medicine' for sufferers of rheumatism. Allegedly, cats may be put in a sack and pounced on the ground or hit with a hammer before being put, sometimes still alive, into boiling water along with ginger, nuts and dates, to make a 'medicine' called goyang soju.

That said these attitudes are fast disappearing, especially among younger urban Koreans, many of whom have become cat lovers. While it used to be difficult to find vets who actually liked cats, it is now increasingly common to see clinics that keep one or more cats on the premises. It has become increasingly easy to find products for cat owners.

Pet Funerals are now legal in Korea. The current law classifies dead pets as 'general disposal' and therefore animals can be disposed of with the household's regular trash. With the legalisation and licensing of pet funeral services, owners can choose cremation or melting the bones into a solid mass, similar to a monument. The process begins at around W15,000, depending on the size of the pet.

Pet Grooming:
On can find gooming shops everywhere. Most operate out of veterinary offices or animal hospitals. The cost depends often on the size of the animal. Although waning in popularity, dying one's dog or cat purple, pink, green, orange, etc. is still somewhat common and groomers will sometimes go ahead and do this for you.....as a service; especially with certain breeds.

Pet Food/Products:
Dog food is easily found all over the country. However, it is still harder to find cat food in many places. In areas, where there is a large expat population, one can find both cat and dog food pretty much everywhere. Cat littler is still sometimes a little harder to find and is usually much more expensive than in Europe or North America. Pets are often still seen as a luxury for wealthy people (even though that's not necessarily the case any more) and so pet products are often priced accordingly. Although they have become increasingly affordable, most pet products may still be more expensive than in your home country.

Clothing for your dog and even for cats can be found almost everywhere now. Toys, beds, cushions and almost every pet accessory you can think of can be found in Korea, especially in the urgan areas.\

Pet 'Restaurants':
Places where you can bring your pet or where you can spend time with, usually, dogs are springing up in Seoul and in other areas around the country.

Mistreatment of Animals:
Even though recent regulations and amendment to existing laws have introduced legal protections for animals and penalties for cruelty, these law are still in their infancy. Many of them are not known to the public, or are still in the 'grace' period, meaning that they aren't applicable yet. Moreover, it is not unsual here for laws to be on the books but never, or almost never, enforced. Therefore, we still have dogs chained, unable to walk more than a meter or two, since they are intended as food and/or to be guard dogs. Animals may still be beaten or tortured for health benefit reasons. The government has been attempting to deal with this issue while individual Koreans have become vocal advocate of humane treatment for animals, which is gradually bringing about changes in attitudes in general.
Hotline for Animal Mistreatment: 1797
Information on Animal Protection service of the National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service, click here. 
NOTE: It is reportedly against Korean law to take pets (dogs) away from abusinve owners. People do ignore this law and do rescue animals from cruel/violent situations; individuals and organisations in Korea are working to change the current law. Some amendments were passed in June 2011 (scroll the subject below for more details).

Puppy Mills:
The majority of dogs sold in pet shops in Korea are from puppy mills (this is true in many other countries as well). A puppy mill is a business that mass produces animals. The mothers are bred in every heat cycle until they are worn out and killed, and are often kept in very poor conditions. Puppies from puppy mills often have illness and conditions that may not be apparent right away.

Most owners here want to breed their pet. This is often done so that they can recoup the money they spent buying their dog (usually) or cat (sometimes). This is one of the reasons why animals aren't spayed or neutered until much alter in life, if ever. It's quite common for veterinarians to operate kennels as well, sometimes specialising ina particular breed.

Renting with a Pet:
It is easier to find a property owner willing to rent if the pet is a small dog or even a cat, but no owner is obligated to do so. It is a matter of individual choice and negotiation, and a change of mind is not uncommon...either way. It can be more difficult to find accomodations that will allow larger animals. Many people keep pets illegally in their home - not much difference between Korea and other places around the world.

Adopting/Fostering a pet in Korea.
Training or Boarding

For more about pets in Korea, scroll down and see the titles 'In the same header'.

Photo from www.kindnesstrust.com

http://www.korea4expats.com/article-pet-culture.html

Korea’s Animal Casualties

November 25, 2012 · by Deva · in Pop Culture, South Korea. ·

During a lesson on describing animals, I asked my students about South Korea’s national animal. Foreheads wrinkled. Eyes glanced sideways. “Tiger?” said one student. “Bear?” said another. They looked to their Korean teacher for help. No-one was sure. In the 20 classes I taught that week, none of my 700+ students could provide a confident answer. One student asked me if there were tigers in South Africa. “No sweetie; that animal is from your part of the world”, I told her.

Coming from a country where a reverence for animals – both wild and domestic – is bound up in national culture, I was surprised at my students’ lack of ecological awareness. I had to remind myself, though, that the country was recovering from a highly traumatic period in its history, in which war and an economic crisis contributed to an environment in which people found it difficult to survive. Typically, in political situations like this, animal welfare takes a backseat. Now, in its post-development phase, South Korea has adopted very specific ideas of progress which don’t prioritise animal welfare. As the Korean Animal Rights Activists (KARA) explains, “rapid economic development has been at the expense of ethical development, and animal abuse is symptomatic of that [neglect]”.

Ironically, the two animals my students mentioned – the Amur Tiger and Asiatic Black Bear – have been subject to some of the worst treatment in Korea. There aren’t many big animals left here in general: the Korea Forest Service explains that “human settlement, loss of forest habitat and over-hunting” have caused the eradication of most large mammals in the country. The Amur (Siberian) Tiger is, in fact, the national animal, but there are none left in the country. Bears and wildcats are limited to tiny areas in the country’s two largest national parks – Jirisan and Seoraksan. Whales are also under threat. In late 2011, South Korea attempted to resume its whaling practices, but supposedly backed down after global outcry. However, Greenpeace has just launched a campaign to stop the government’s scientific whaling program, which it says will go ahead in December 2012. Apart from this, a recent report by the BBC shows that illegal whaling still occurs in parts of the country.

A Careless Cruelty

Animals that have survived the rapid destruction of their natural habitat are often subject to shocking cruelty and slaughter. Here are three recent cases: in January 2011, the government buried around 1.5 million pigs alive after an outbreak of foot and mouth disease – a mass vaccination was later instigated. In May 2012, an ex-Buddhist monk was sentenced to six months in prison after killing a dog with an axe. And in July 2012, two bears who escaped a bile farm were shot dead by police on capture.

Along with China and Vietnam, South Korea is one of three countries that allow Moon Bear bile farming. The bile is extracted via a tube or catheter and sold as an ingredient for Chinese medicine. ‘Milking’ the bears is illegal in South Korea, but killing them is not. I was surprised to discover that most of these farms are near Daegu area, where I live, since there is a huge oriental market here, despite the fact that that there are alternatives to bear bile. There are currently fewer than 20 bears left in the Jirisan National Park. The government has taken some steps to investigate the industry and end the trade, while organisations like Bear Necessity Korea are working to speed the process.

Live Lunches and Suicide Food

Owners of seafood restaurants are committed to serving fresh food, and so often display tanks of live seafood outside their premises. While some of these are shellfish and invertebrates (which, as far as we know, are less sentient), fish, eels and octopi are also stored. Octopi, which we know are highly intelligent, are eaten live or boiled live in a stew.

People here seem to be less sensitive to the suffering of animals, and don’t share the West’s habit of disassociating meat from its source. Butchers will often have stuffed animals in their display cabinets and some restaurants display a cartoon version of the animal on the menu. Suicide Food, as the trend is named, is not unique to Korea but preval‎ent in the US, Australia and Japan. It’s a crass (though fairly amusing) practice, and a good indication of Korean attitudes to animal sentience.

My local Nakji joint

Animals on Shelves

I am not claiming that there are no ‘animal-lovers’ in Korea. Many people own pets, most of which are small dogs or cats – as most people live in apartments. While some are treated well, dogs are often kept permanently on chains or in enclosed spaces. Handbag-dogs are trendy here too, though I suspect for the same reasons that they are in the West. They are equally objectified, as is made evident by the pet-storage facilities at Lotte Department Store. You can lock up your handbag, dog included, for the duration of your shopping time in a locker conveniently equipped with air holes. At my local E-mart, one can buy a pet turtle, hedgehog or rabbit just a couple of aisles from the groceries. The living-conditions in stores like this are abominable.

Markets also sell pets that are stored and sold like groceries. The sellers at Dongnae Market in Busan were genuinely surprised when I asked whether these tortoises and toads were meant to be eaten:

So while some animals are seen as companions, they are treated as objects. In a similarly contradictory attitude to animals,[1] pet-themed cafes allow patrons to enjoy both coffee and cuddles with cats or dogs. These cafes, while a treat for genuine animal-lovers, reduce the animals to live fluffy toys.[2] The individuality of these animals is seemingly irrelevant, and they are valuable in as far as they add to the novelty of the café.

Hopeless?

So far, I’ve been highly critical of the attitude toward animals in mainstream culture in Korea. However, since the first animal rights law was only created in 2007, it’s fair to say that animal welfare is a recent concept in Korean culture. As KARA says on its site, “the concept of animal rights has not entered into public consciousness as much as it has in other developed countries”.

There are some key organisations that are working to transform these cultural attitudes. Groups such as KARA, Co-existence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE) and the Korean Animals Protection Society (KAPS) are making headway in their fight for change. Many revisions were made to the laws regarding animal welfare in July 2011, including higher penalties for those who abuse animals and the need for retailers such as E-mart to obtain a licence to sell animals. I’m yet to see any difference at my local store, and CARE has asked the public to aid in sending an official letter to the Director of Animal Welfare, Seo Kyo-Young, asking to enforce and adapt the law. As CARE says, the Act “does not include the definition of animal abuse, humanitarian rearing, transportation and butchery of animals or the prohibition of [animals being] buried alive”.

On 7 August, one of the hottest days of summer when some Koreans traditionally eat dog meat, CARE and KAPS organised a protest against the consumption of dog-meat. Frankie Herrington’s article in Busan Haps does a thorough job of summarising the state of the industry.[3]

While eating dog-meat is the most notorious act of animal cruelty in Korea, it is certainly no different from the cruelty against stock animals present in unethical farming practices.[4] I am not suggesting that the eating of dog-meat should be ignored because it’s a cultural practice – all harmful cultural practices should be challenged – but merely that non-Korean approaches to Korean dog meat are also culturally-informed and similarly problematic.

I don’t think it’s helpful to compare Korea’s treatment of animals with that of other countries – developed or undeveloped – because the treatment of animals should never be associated with national sovereignty or diplomacy. Besides, it’s difficult to find a country where animals are legally protected and their safety enshrined in the constitution. Considering the recent founding of organisations like KARA and CARE (both in 2002), it does seem that a change in the treatment of animals is possible in Korea, even if it’s slow.

The Animal Protection Act is detailed in English on CARE’s site. Citizens who witness acts of cruelty and neglect can contact the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service on 1797 – the hotline for animal mistreatment.

---

[1] South Africans too have a very contradictory relationship with non-human animals. While we revere certain wild animals as sacred, particularly large indigenous animals such as the Big Five, we are a meat-loving nation whose national pastime is braaing – a local method of barbecuing. And while conservation has become a cultural practice, in order to financially sustain our conservation projects we support a thriving hunting industry largely marketed at international tourists.

[2] I suspect that treatment of these animals will differ from café to café, and welcome criticism on this point, as I haven’t visited a pet café myself.

[3] Her blog, The Vegan Urbanite, offers regular social commentary on animal welfare in Korea, as well as information on living as a vegan here.

[4] This article is already far too long to host a philosophical debate on this matter, but I will state my thoughts briefly. Dogs are no more intelligent or emotionally evolved than other large mammals such as cows and pigs. The increased sympathy that we feel for dogs is entirely culturally constructed: we have made a cultural distinction between which animals are worthy of being treated as pets while others are not. I suspect it is because it is more practical to keep a dog in the house than a pig. Anyone who has an ethical opposition to farming and eating dog meat should have a similar position on the farming of cows and pigs for meat.

– This article was later published in Chincha?! Magazine

http://theculturemuncher.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/koreas-animal-casualties/