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| Animal activists demand the Korean government ban the sale and consumption of dogs in Gwangwhamun, Wednesday. /Yonhap |
Animal rights activists Wednesday called for a ban on the sale and consumption of dog meat ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February.
The Korea Association for Animal Protection claimed Korea has 20,000 dog farms across the country with 2 million canines slaughtered for human consumption.
Some of the participants wore dog masks in order to plead for the protective action for the dogs.
"We wish to bring an end to Korea's dog meat-eating habit," the association said in a press conference.
"Dogs are man's best friend and we shouldn't eat them."
The association argued it is absurd to distinguish edible dogs from pets, likening it to the equality that should be guaranteed for all humans irrespective of race.
The ban would help raise the prestige of Korea as the host of the world's biggest winter sporting event. "The ban would invite an additional blessing from people around the world who oppose Korea's dog meat consumption," the group said.
In 1984, Korea under the strongman Chun Doo-hwan temporarily banned the sale of canine meat ahead of the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, closing down many dog meat restaurants. But they came back in business after the Games.
The slaughter of dogs for food is unregulated, as dogs are not classified as livestock here.
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