KEY POINTS:
Hwang Ki Boon will tuck into poshintang stew today to enhance his sexual prowess. But he's unlikely to attract any pet lovers, as the delicacy's special ingredient is dog.
Today is Malbok, one of the three days on the lunar calendar when Koreans consume most of the 100,000 tonnes of dog meat they eat every year. Also on the menu is gae soju, liquified dog marinated in herbs and consumed as a drink or soup.
But many young Koreans think those who eat dog are an anachronism.
A recent survey by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that 59 per cent of Koreans aged under 30 would not eat dog. Some 62 per cent of the same age group said they regarded dogs as pets.
However, the true picture suggests that dog eating is still rife in Korea. Statistics show that in 2002, 2.95 million dogs were slaughtered for food. By 2005, the number had dropped to 2.31 million but experts say there has been no further decline.
The lines are now being drawn for a battle. "Dog meat consumption is illegal and its consumers are deranged," said Lee Bi-gayon of the Korean Dog Protection Society.
When Korea hosted the World Cup in 2002, the official line was that eating dog was illegal - but it's not.
In the spirit of Confucianism, eating dog is not against the law, but not legal either. Hence dog meat farming takes place in a legal grey area, which opponents say increases the cruelty.
Dogs are kept chained up in cages awaiting slaughter - until a customer has made a selection.
The dogs are not beaten to death as they were in the past - the theory being that fear and adrenaline would make the meat more tender.
Animal rights activists plan to disrupt Malbok feasts.
- Independent
