Koreans and Dog Meat

                             By Professor Yong-Geun Ann, Ph.D.
                                      Chungcheong College

                                  Hyo-Il Publishing Company

   I wrote this book for two reasons. One is to make known worldwide the history and tradition in which Koreans have eaten dog meat, the various recipes and the traditional concept of dogs and the other is to eliminate the controversy surrounding the edibility of dog meat.
   All humans try to improve the environment in which they are placed and enhance the quality of their living, which is the essence of culture. A group or society forms a relatively unique culture thereby outlining its distinctness. But western culture has a strong tendency to dislike the foods of other cultures. It is this prejudice which puts the 'foreign' culture's food in the wrong.
   Eating dog meat is Korea's own inherent food culture, which has a long history. Nevertheless, some extremist animal protection groups chastise consumers, threatening them with a campaign to boycott Korean products, even promoting the nonparticipation in the 2002 World Cup. Pros or cons arguments over the edibility of dog meat are rising again since some Koreans who do not like dog meat are voicing their opinions.
   The debate over the edibility of dog meat is not worthy of a second thought. The history that Koreans used dog meat as food was originated from such a long time ago long that it cannot be dated back. Koreans have eaten dog meat more than any other. As certain dogs in Korea are raised for domestic consumption, Koreans should not be ashamed due to the misguided views of others.
   Giving in to pressure from mostly foreign dissenters, Korea has banned the use of dog meat. In doing so, this has reduced the sovereignty of Korea and what it stands for. That is the revelation of submissive idea under the influence of foreign country to lower ourselves down, having a negative view on dog meat.
   The resumption of the controversy over the edibility of dog meat is due to the federal government's tepid attitude. The federal government should allow nationals to slaughter dog and eat it by law, regulating the whole process ranging from breeding to slaughtering, processing, and distribution, and let Koreans eat dog meat without trepidation. Regrettably, the federal government hasn't made any decision on it up to now. It is due to the fact that the government is being pulled in opposing directions with the animal rights activists on one side and the dog meat consumers on the other.
  Another important reason is from the fact that country that exports beef to Korea is eager to block the legality of dog meat according to the newly-revised international trade order following the Uruguay Round. The reason is by banning the consumption of dog meat, Korea's importation of foreign beef with increase by the same amount
   Basic problem over the edibility issue is left up to Koreans alone. Though government authorities drive dog meat restaurants into the 'underground', many Koreans still enjoy dog meat. Will it be possible for Koreans not to eat dog meat, and will the criticism and attacks cease if government should take measures to ban dog meat? The attitude of feeling shame by eating dog meat, of humbly lowering ourselves, shifts the cause of the problem and only hinders the solution, spoiling our pride.
   The only way of solving the problem is to recognize dog meat as a traditional food and develop it further. In many ways, Korea is historically and culturally among the top in the world, but it lacks not only in a firm pride and belief in a traditional culture, but also in a strong will to make it known worldwide. Now, people around the world show a great enthusiasm to the export of their culture. We should be proud and have a belief of what we have. It is required to make various food using dog meat and gourmets should come to Korea to enjoy dog meat. For this, Korea needs to set up a research institute, invest in research, and also breeders of dogs and dog meat restaurant owners should form an association, insisting on their own claims, with the expansion of their interests. By doing so, we should make known worldwide our unique culinary culture of dog meat.
 

                                Professor Yong-Geun Ann, Ph.D.

                       Dept. Food Nutrition, Chungcheong College
             330 Wolgok, Kangnae, Cheongwon, Chungbuk, R. O. Korea

                                      annygn@hanmail.net

                                          Contents

     Introduction

     Names related to dog meat

 1. Korea's History of the Edibility of Dog Meat
 (1) The eras of Samguk and Koryo
 (2) The eras of Chosun and Japanese occupation
 (3) Currently
 (4) North Korea

 2. Foreign Countries' Histories on the Edibility of Dog Meat
 (1) China
 (2) Japan
 (3) France
 (4) Polynesia
 (5) North America
 (6) Europe
 (7) United States of America
 (8) Africa
 (9) Russia and Eastern Europe
(10) The Middle East
(11) Indonesia
(12) Philippines
(13) Vietnam
(14) Thailand
(15) India

 3. Korea's Culture of Consuming Dog Meat
 (1) Special ceremonies
 (2) Origin of eating dog meat on Bocknal (very hot summer days)
 (3) Bocknoli(eating dog meat in Bocknal)

 4. Recognition of the Edibility of Dog Meat
 (1) Survey
 (2) Other materials
 (3) Opposed opinion of eating dog meat
 (4) Objection movement to eating dog meat
 (5) Federal government policy on dog meat consumption

 5. Terms Related to Dogs and Dog Meat
 (1) Etymology of dogs
 (2) Meaning of dog
 (3) Chinese Character denoting dog's behavior
 (4) Chinese character denoting dog
 (5) Distinct feature of dog in Chinese characters
 (6) Chinese character showing edibility of dog meat
 (7) Proverbs concerning dog meat
 (8) Abuses
 (9) Folk song

 6. Fable and Dreams
 (1) Korean fables
 (2) Religious fables
 (3) Customs
 (4) Fortune in the Year of the Dog as determined by the Zodiac
 (5) Dreaming of dogs

 7. Edible Dog
 (1) The origin and feature of dogs
 (2) The recognition of dogs in ancient documents
 (3) Ddong-gae (edibal dog)
 (4) Breeding edible dogs
 (5) Production of edible dogs in China
 (6) Import and export of dog meat
 (7) Slaughtering dogs
 (8) Diseases from dog that may affect people
 (9) Medical prescriptions on being bitten by a rabid dog

 8. Nutritional Value
 (1) Nutritional value
 (2) Digestion
 (3) Taste
 (4) Imitation dog meat

 9. Medical Effectiveness
 (1) Bonchogangmock (Myung Era pharmaceutical text by Si-Jin Lee)
 (2) Dongeuibogam (Chosun Era medical encyclopedia by Jun Heo)
 (3) Others
 (4) Poisons
 (5) Excessive expectations of 'health' foods
 (6) Taboos

10. Dog Meat During the Chosun Era
 (1) Recognition and recipes of dog meat
 (2) Eliminating the smell of dog meat
 (3) Boiling dog meat and Gaejangguk (Dog meat soup boiled with soy sauce)
 (4) Steamed dog meat
 (5) Neureumi(adding thick soup ingredient upon what is boiled or steamed )
 (6) Soondae (intestinal cased sausage)
 (7) Moosulju (wine derived from dog meat)
 (8) Moosuldang(malt syrup derived from dog meat)
 (9) Moosulhwan (pill form of dog meat extract)
(10) Others
(11) Wax gourd and purple perillar
(12) Survey results

11. Dog Meat Dishes in Current Times
 (1) Dog meat and yooksoo (gravy)
 (2) Dog meat soup
 (3) Jeongol (casserole)
 (4) Sooyook (boiled)
 (5) Dooroochiggi (seasoned)
 (6) Otgaegogi (boiled dog meat with lacker tree)
 (7) Yakgaejungtang (dog meat soup with medical stuff)
 (8) Gaesoju (extract of dog meat)
 (9) Chinese dog meat dishes
(10) Consuming dog meat with alcohol

12. Present Types of Dog Meat and Products
 (1) Roasted dog meat
 (2) Steamed dog meat
 (3) Dog meat soup
 (4) Long boiled dog meat
 (5) Sanjeok (skewered)
 (6) Fried
 (7) Dog leg
 (8) Soondae (sausage) and mandoo (dumpling)
 (9) Dried dog meat
(10) Yukjang (self digested dog meat with salt)
(11) Shaboo shaboo
(12) Canned and retort
(13) Soup
(14) Dog meat powder
(15) Dog meat extract
(16) Dog meat ham
(17) Dog meat sausage
(18) Using dog meat in Western cooking
(19) Survey results

13. Refuting the Objection of the Edibility of Dog meat
 (1) Dog meat food is a traditional food
 (2) Predominance of western culture
 (3) Making friends with a dog is to become a dog
 (4) Not a pet in Chosun Era
 (5) Loving a dog as a pet is the real cruelty
 (6) Loving an animal is a form of showing oneself off
 (7) Si-Sa Park's opinion
 (8) Dr. Sung-Woo Lee's opinion
 (9) Hyeon-Soo Park's opinion
(10) a Japanese opinions
(11) The belligerence of the West
(12) The fiction of a dog's faithfulness
(13) A Dog is a beast
(14) Pet dogs and edible dogs
(15) The bias of dogs
(16) Slaughtering and distributing dog meat can be hygienic
(17) Slaughtering dogs prevents disease
(18) Dog meat prevents the hardening of arteries
(19) Can eating dog lead to its extinction?
(20) Even different religions understand each other
(21) Bean curd and cheese
(22) Can the person who deserts a dog criticize the consumer of dog meat?
(23) Principal offenders of environmental disruption
(24) The proper attitude towards animal protection
(25) Survery results

14. Structural Problems over the Controversy of Dog Meat
 (1) Influence of colonial rule
 (2) Why is dog meat on debate?
 (3) Eradication of tradition by the logic of economy
 (4) The real intention of criticism

15. The Globalization of Dog Meat

       References