"English DJ Claims 'I Ate Fried Dog Meat in Korea' Sparks Lie Controversy"

Broadcaster Sarah Cox "Accidentally Ate Dog Meat Thinking It Was Chicken"
Netizens "No Dog Meat Fried... It's a Lie"

BBC2 radio host Sarah Cox / Photo by Twitter capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] A British broadcaster has sparked controversy by saying that during a past trip to Korea, she mistakenly ate dog meat thinking it was chicken. Netizens are criticizing her, arguing that "dog meat is never eaten fried."

According to the British media outlet The Mirror, Sarah Cox (46), a BBC2 radio host, recently appeared on a podcast and shared an anecdote about visiting Korea around the age of 19 for modeling activities.

She recalled, "When I was 19 and working as a model in Korea, I had the experience of eating dog meat," adding, "it was served in a basket like chicken, and only after eating until I could see the bones did I realize it wasn’t chicken. The part I ate seemed like an elbow."

She continued, "I didn’t go to Korea specifically to eat dog meat," and added, "As you know, it’s a mistake that can happen anywhere." She explained that any foreigner could have made the same mistake.

The media noted that about 30 years ago, when Cox visited Korea, dog meat was commonly sold as a delicacy, but nowadays, slaughtering dogs for food is illegal.

Upon hearing this news, netizens raised their voices criticizing Cox’s 'dog meat' remarks as false. While it is true that dog meat was relatively common several decades ago, it is pointed out that eating dog meat fried is rare. In the past, dog meat was mainly used in soup dishes called 'Boshintang.'

One netizen said, "I have never heard of anyone frying dog meat anywhere in our country. Also, chicken restaurants do not sell dog meat," and questioned, "How could dog meat come out when ordering chicken?"

Another netizen said, "Even I, who have lived in Korea all my life, have never seen fried dog meat. People around me also have no knowledge of fried dog meat, so where exactly did she eat fried dog meat?" and added, "This is a clear lie. Apologize."

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, dog meat is not recognized as a food ingredient by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) in Korea. The sale of food that does not meet MFDS standards is prohibited by law. Additionally, under the 'Livestock Products Sanitary Control Act,' which governs slaughter, distribution, and processing, dogs are not classified as 'livestock.' This law classifies "cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, and other animals intended for food" as 'livestock,' but dogs are excluded.

In other words, selling dog meat dishes under signs or menus like 'Boshintang' is practically illegal. However, the relevant authorities, including the MFDS, do not take administrative actions or file complaints, citing the need for social consensus.

Meanwhile, as animal rights awareness improves, opposition to dog meat consumption is also increasing. According to a survey conducted by Gyeonggi Province on 1,000 residents from the 11th to 12th of last month, 62% of respondents opposed eating dog meat.

Furthermore, 84% of respondents answered 'no' when asked if they intended to eat dog meat in the future. Regarding the establishment of a law banning dog meat consumption, 64% of respondents supported it.

As a result, the dog meat market is gradually shrinking. The Moran Market in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and Gupo Market in Busan, once known as the 'three major dog markets nationwide,' stopped selling dog meat in 2016 and 2019, respectively. Among the three major dog markets nationwide, only the dog meat market located in Chilseong Market in Daegu remains.

Meanwhile, in December last year, Representative Han Jeong-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea proposed a revision to the Animal Protection Act banning the slaughter and sale of dogs and cats for food, but it is still pending. The bill includes provisions for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won for slaughtering, processing, or selling dogs or cats for food.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.