Re:Discussion 7th March / The Frist Studing

[Meggy]

Sunday, 27 January, 2002, 14:43 GMT

Korea dog meat row hots up

South Korea has thousands of dog meat restaurants

Animal rights activists in South Korea have held a rally in the capital Seoul to protest against the custom of eating dog meat.

Protesters burnt pictures of two South Korean legislators who have led a campaign to legalise the practice.

The demonstration was organised to counter moves by restaurant owners who on Friday launched a national federation to protect the eating of dog meat.

Defenders of the custom say eating dogs is part of Korea's culture, just as pigeons and snails are eaten in some Western countries.

Dog soup

The several dozen protesters chanted "Stop abusing animals" and displayed pictures of skinned dogs at the rally in a Seoul park.

Some people believe dog meat improves strength and virility

Dogs are specially bred in South Korea to be eaten - notably in "poshintang", which literally means "body preservation stew".

Afficionados say it is good for health, and some consider it a delicacy.

Foreign activists have criticised the illegal way in which some dogs are killed to make the meat more tender - by beating, burning or hanging. Such methods are now officially banned.

It is estimated that only 16% of dogs in South Korea are bred as pets.

World Cup

The issue of eating dog meat has come to a head in the run-up to the World Cup football tournament in May.

Dogs are specially bred to be eaten

In November, FIFA President Sepp Blatter urged South Koreans to stop eating dog meat during the World Cup.

The practice has also been denounced by the French actress turned animal rights activist, Brigitte Bardot.

South Korea banned dog restaurants during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, invoking a law prohibiting the sale of foods deemed unsightly.

Dozens of members of the South Korean parliament have introduced legislation to formally legalise dog meat. But the majority of MPs do not support it and it seems unlikely to become law.

****Questions

1. Do you support or againt for selling 개고기or 보신탕 in restaurants? Pls tell us your opinion about it.

2. How about selling 개고기 on website? Do you support or not. And what is different selling 개고기 in a restaurant and on a website?

3. Have you ever ate 개고기? If you have an experience how was feeling after eat.

4. Have you hear strange food story like monkey's brain, deer's blood?

5.What's your special food story among you eating?

6.If you express 'food' just one word..? ex) food is 000.

7.If you foreign friend ask you "why do Korea people eat dog? or Is it really, Korean eat dog?" How will you answer?

[Meggy]

기존에 있던 토픽 중에 내용도 쉽고 토론하기도 쉬운 소재로 골랐습니다.

[Michael]

와..재밌는 토픽이네요~^^