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| Members of Representatives for the Protection of Animals protest in front of the government office in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Thursday. / Courtesy of Representatives for the Protection of Animals |
By Eom Da-sol
Thirteen animal activists protested in front of Gangwon Province office building in Chuncheon on Thursday. They claimed the provincial office was funding dog-meat restaurants to change their signs and menus so they "do not look like selling dog meat" as the province prepares for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
In January, Gangwon Province announced that it would ask 40 dog meat restaurants in Pyeongchang and Gangneung ― the cities close to the Olympic Games venues ― to alter their signs menus and, if necessary, interiors. The province said it would contribute up to 10 million won ($ 8,930) towards the costs of each restaurant.
"I think the original purpose of this business is wrong," Hwang Dong-yeol, leader of Representatives for the Protection of Animals (RPA), told The Korea Times. "It is simply trying to fool visitors from outside the country, not tackling the fundamental problem that they serve dog meat.
"The altered signboards are just temporary according to the news reports. They will go back to their original after the Olympics."
But a Gangwon Province official said, "I think there is a big misunderstanding here. We have not even given financial assistance to any restaurants yet. We are receiving angry calls from dog lovers every day.
"As a person who works with the international event, I also understand that dog-meat restaurants are controversial in other countries and cause discomfort to some people.
"The best solution for us is to ask the restaurants to change their signature menus or change the signboards."
The activists who participated in the demonstration want the dog-meat restaurants closed down. "It is a waste of money if the local government funds the dog meat restaurants just to avoid international criticism temporarily," Hwang said.
The official said the restaurants were not the provincial government's responsibility.
"The provincial office does not have the power to close stores down," the official said. "We are merely administrative service providers. There also is no legal reason to close them. I am sorry for the animal lovers, but they are slamming the wrong door."
The RPA submitted an official letter of complaint to the Office of Gangwon Province last week.
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