UK Wants S. Koreans To Stop Eating Dogs: Why Do Brits Want To Impose Their Dietary Culture On Others?

An animal-loving British minister is calling on South Korea to stop dog meat trade, in an effort to protect pooches from reaching the dinner plates.

Foreign Office Minister Alok Sharma wants the UK government to press South Korea to reform its canine trade policy.

According to a petition, more than five million dogs are slaughtered every year in South Korea. It is the only country in the world to exclusively farm dogs for human consumption and dogs are classified as livestock. Electrocution, as well as hanging and beating are usual killing methods when they reach the slaughterhouse.

The UK government has described the practice as ‘cruel and inhumane’ and stated “the British Embassy in Seoul has raised the issue of cruelty towards animals on numerous occasions with the South Korean authorities and explained that the UK public and parliamentarians would like to see Korean regulation that would bring the practice to an end”.

But, some argue what happens if Pakistan or Israeli seek an end to the cruel and inhumane practice of Britain’s pork industry or if the India’s representative in London does the same over Britain’s beef industry.

In the United States, horse meat is banned. In 2007, Congress stripped financing for federal inspections of horse slaughter. Many states continue to have their own stringent laws that prohibit slaughter and consumption of horse.

In the year 732 AD, Pope Gregory III described the consumption of horse meat as a pagan practice and ensured that it was abolished using his clout. Also, Horse has served as a powerful imagery that helped create shared American myths like courageous Cowboys and hence horse eating horrifies many Americans.

Critics have argued that ban makes no sense as horse meat besides being cheaper than beef is leaner.

In India too, most of the states have strict anti-cow slaughter laws. But these are loosely implemented and result in occasional skirmishes.

Meanwhile, North Korea is promoting dog meat as a health food. According to reports, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un has been pushing the advocacy, describing dog meat dishes as “stamina-boosting” while extolling their “health benefits.” He wants his famished citizens to eat dog meat by suggesting it has more vitamins than chicken, beef, pork or duck.