Moments of disgust.

I try not to be repulsed by the treatment of animals in Korea.  But it's difficult sometimes.  I'm not a tree hugger, but I do think that animals should be treated with some level of decency.  Korea does not share this belief, which makes me sad and has helped me to adopt a mostly vegeterian diet while here or eating foreign imported meat where available. 

The more I read, the more appalled I become.   I understand that eating dog is part of their culture, but the fact that they beat the dog while it's still alive is absolutely unacceptable to me.  I would rather eat straight up rice than think that an animal suffered pure agony before it died to go on my plate.  Many Koreans vehemenantly deny that this beating takes place anymore and maintain that Korea now holds itself to higher food standards, citing that Korea has even gone so far as to enter into an agreement guaranteeing the world of the humane treatment of animals.  I've looked this up and while this is true.. I'd like to point out that a few months ago when hoof and mouth disease was sweeping through Korea, the government responded by burying over 1.4 million pigs alive.  I'm pretty sure that says more about this food matter than some silly slip of paper they signed to keep outside nations off of their backs. 

This said.. I would like to share a photo that the other American took while traveling this weekend to livestock market.




 I have never been more disappointed or disgusted by Korea.  These animals sit in the heat all day, are over packed in their crates and are killed, skinned, and gutted upon purchse.  .Korea is not a struggling country any longer.  Infact they have experienced a HUGE economic boom and are presently on their way to acquiring a great national wealth.  However.. There are some things that need to change. 
Furthermore.. I have asked many, many people about the habit of eating cats and been assured many times that they do not do such a thing because cats have souls. 

Yeah.  That promise seems as empty as that humane animal treatment pledge they signed a while back..

The first two are about the problem of eating cats and dogs here as well as a look at the problem of open air markets for livestock.  The last covers the slaughter and live burial of the pigs back in January.

http://www.blogger.com/goog_785501722
http://www.blogger.com/goog_785501722
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2042942,00.html

Side Note: My spell check does not work on Blogger.  Does anyone know how to remedy this?