The atmosphere of the market is not a very peaceful one though. Dog meat store owners lift up a big chunk of meat on a scale to lure customers. Right below the scale are the rusty cages filled with dogs, patiently waiting for their turn to be slaughtered and to go up the scale. I've heard that dog meat venders tend to be hostile to those who disapprove, so I tried very hard to look neutral. My appearance looks Korean, so I think that helped. To my surprise, dogs are fed the organs of their dead friends while on display. Probably because these organs contain a
certain amount of water, as even on a hot August day, no separate bowls of water were given to them.
You can read the article by clicking here and downloading the .pdf file of this month's issue. Considering how poorly-received articles on Gwangju's love motels, the Coreana Nazi-themed commercials, the men who collect cardboard boxes, and Michael White were received by some Korean readers (and editors), I hope this writer gets better treatment, and isn't subjected to news reports about how she doesn't understand Korean culture.
4 comments:
I think the tide is turning against these places. I pass by a big dog market in Gupo-dong, Busan all the time, and in the subway nearby there are anti-eating dog signs. I'd be willing to bet that as the people running the dog markets die off, there won't be Koreans to replace them. This will take another generation or two, but really, what young Korean wants to run a dog butcher?
I tend to view these people as less human as the dogs themselves, but I realize I'm being a hypocrite. I don't see cow and pig butchers in plain view. They're just as bad. We're just not used to it.
Good points, Aaron.
Just for the record, the current edition of the Gwangju News is actually good. I know they do their best, but in the past year too much of the space was devoted to student essays and bitching about US politics. It's a damn local magazine, stick to the local stuff. This issue is pretty solid, I hope it keeps up.
If the editorial is true the editor is changing and the old co-ordinater is back
Well, my father who is a pastor in a rural church and his friends do enjoy Bosin-tang although I sometimes jokingly say to him how inhumne he is. I didn't (not couldn't) eat the tang because it looked taste bad. Like 2-3 years ago, I and my friend visited Moran market to find out why it is famour as not knowing about the dogs sold. I saw dogs packed in a small cell, and carcasses hung next to. I saw somewhat unhappy face of the owners. My friend who really likes the dog food, could bear the scene in front of her. We got out of the market asap. I.. just wonder, if we treat the dogs more gently and 'humanly' when we kill them to eat, would that be more acceptable to ppl inside and out.
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