A group of legislators in South Korea say they're planning to push through laws to legalise the sale of dog meat ahead of next year's soccer World Cup.

It's still unclear whether the bill would pass the 273-member National Assembly.

A similar bill was scuttled in 1999, with many legislators saying it would give the country a bad international image.

About 3 million of South Korea's 47 million people are believed to eat dog meat as a delicacy, but there is currently no law either banning or legalising its sale.

The group said it was pushing the bill again after the custom drew renewed criticism from international animal rights activists, including French actress Brigitte Bardot.

Many Koreans took the criticism as a slight to their national pride. South Koreans slaughter only meat dogs for eating, not pet dogs.

Kim Hong-shin, an opposition legislator, said a lack of regulation of dog meat sales allows butchers to kill dogs in inhumane ways, and distribute meat under unhygienic conditions, giving fuel to the animal rights argument.

Kim, who sponsored the 1999 bill, has drawn a new bill, which is endorsed by 20 legislators, enough to officially introduce the bill in the National Assembly.

Concerned about its image, the government banned dog meat during the 1988 Seoul Olympics by invoking a law that prohibits the sale of "foods deemed unsightly." After the Olympics, the ban was not strictly enforced.

Dog meat is also eaten in some other Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos.



(It must be clear by now that, far from listening to western opinion, South Korea's stance is not one merely of ignoring it, but of flouting it in a way that seems arrogant beyond belief!

Many campaigning to end the torture of dogs and cats within that country have in the past taken the opinion that reasoned discussion was preferable to sanctions, considering that a boycott of Korean trade would have the negative effect of making them more resistant to outside opinion. This belief is rapidly being proven to be a false hope. Not content with trying to claim that the dog and cat meat markets are "marginal", South Korea is now trying to legalise them!

We are of the opinion that there can only be one response to this move, and call upon Animal Welfare organisations worldwide to join us in an immediate boycott of all produce from South Korea, along with tourism within that country. If we are guilty of the "cultural imperialism" that they accuse us of, they will presumably not want our imperialist currency.

Details of this campaign will be added to our website within the next few days......ITD)