It comes down to this, dog eating in South Korea is generally accepted and in western cultures it's horrifying. But there is a man in South Korea who's trying to change minds in a country where the practice of eating dog meat is considered a cuisine.
For this man, this has nothing to do with being a vegetarian or pushing a political agenda. In fact his concern for these dogs is more sincere than many of the well known animal rights groups that make a lot of noise these days.
Every weekend in Seoul, Lee Won-bok heads to the malls and arranges graphic photos of dogs being hanged and butchered as they're prepared for market. He asks people to sign a petition that he can take to legislators so they will enforce the laws prohibiting the consumption of dog meat. It seems like a meaningless battle because officials ignore the laws.
"People don't comprehend the suffering these dogs endure," Lee said, "They may vaguely realize that people still eat dogs. But they need to know what happens to the animals."
As South Koreans have gradually embraced Western his campaign is gaining strength. With more dog owners the opposition of eating dog meat grows in support.
"Dog eating in Korea is not going to end in one day or one year," Lee said. "But it's only a matter of time."
Without trying to sound like hypocrites, those of us in the Voodoo Kitchen are big meat eaters. But even meat eaters love and take care of their pets, that's why we participate in dog and cat adoptions and support sincere groups which really care about the welfare of animals.
So, we wish our South Korean friend much success.
