"Candidate Yoon, is it okay to eat dogs other than Tori?" Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Edible Dog' Remark Sparks Controversy

Yoon Seok-yeol's Controversy Over 'Edible Dog' Remark...Contrasts with Friendly Image Using Pet Dog 'Tori'
Lee Jae-myung "Apologize to the People", Yoo Seung-min "Unpleasant to Hear"
Animal Protection Groups Also Criticize "Unfit to Be President"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, holding his pet dog Tori. Photo by Yoon's Instagram account capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "'You call yourself 'Tori's dad,' but you say dog meat is okay?", "Are you for or against dog meat consumption..."

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential pre-candidate of the People Power Party, has sparked controversy by mentioning so-called 'dogs raised for meat' during a debate on dog meat consumption. In response to criticism that eating dogs is animal abuse, he argued that there are dogs specifically raised for meat consumption.

In the political sphere, criticism has arisen that he lacks empathy for companion animals and that the very idea of dividing dogs into edible and non-edible categories is absurd.

Above all, since Yoon has emphasized a friendly image by publicly sharing his daily life with his pet dog 'Tori,' some are accusing him of using his pet merely as a promotional tool.

At the final TV debate of the People Power Party presidential primary on the 31st of last month, Yoon said about the 'dog meat policy,' "Personally, I am against it, but regarding it as a national policy, there should be a broad social consensus."

When former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min countered, "Can the issue of dog meat consumption be left to individual choice? It is directly linked to animal abuse of companion animals," Yoon replied, "(Dog meat consumption) is not animal abuse of companion animals; aren't dogs raised separately for meat consumption?"

The 'dogs for meat' mentioned by Yoon are the main argument of those who support dog meat consumption, such as the Meat Dog Association. Their intention is to legalize dog meat consumption by distinguishing between companion dogs and dogs raised for meat.

On the other hand, opponents of dog meat consumption point out that dogs registered as companion animals are often found in illegal dog farms, and that animal abuse is a serious problem within the dog meat industry structure. This is why Yoon's remarks about 'dogs for meat' have drawn heavy criticism.

◆ Lee Jae-myung and Yoo Seung-min also criticize in unison... "You call yourself 'Tori's dad,' but only use it for promotion"

The political world has uniformly criticized Yoon's contradictory attitude of raising a companion dog while mentioning dogs for meat. On the same day, candidate Lee Jae-myung wrote on his Facebook, "The claim that dog meat consumption is not animal abuse is a big problem, but the act of dividing dogs into edible and non-edible is even more shocking," and urged, "I hope Yoon apologizes now to the citizens who were hurt by his remarks as a companion animal owner."

Yoo Seung-min, who raised related questions during the debate, appeared on YTN Radio's 'Hwang Bo-seon's Start New Morning' on the 1st and said, "(Yoon's words) were unpleasant to hear," emphasizing, "Nowadays, the population raising companion dogs exceeds 15 million. It is time to ban dog meat consumption."

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang also criticized on her Facebook, "At a time when social discussions on 'banning dog meat consumption' are more active than ever, Yoon's remarks reveal ignorance about animal policies," adding, "Yoon, who calls himself 'Tori's dad' and aimed to win the votes of pet owners, shows a disappointing level of awareness. Is the companion dog he raises used only for social media (SNS) promotion when needed?"

Yoon Seok-yeol, a preliminary presidential candidate of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Citizens are also angry about Yoon's remarks. Choi, a 24-year-old university student who has lived with a companion dog for seven years, said, "I wonder and am angry whether he thinks his own companion dog (Tori) is precious but other dogs are insignificant enough to be eaten, or if he only used his companion dog for election promotion."

◆ Angry animal protection groups: "Not qualified to be president... Are these words spoken after seeing the reality of animal abuse?"

Animal protection groups have also strongly criticized. On the same day, the animal protection group Life issued a statement saying, "A candidate who claims fairness, common sense, and justice and aims to become president dismissing the illegal dog meat issue as a matter of personal choice is blatant discrimination," and pointed out, "It is even more tragic that a candidate with no basic awareness claims to be someone who cherishes dogs and cats." Yoon has frequently shared photos of spending time with his companion dog and cat on SNS.

Animal Rights Action Kara also issued a statement questioning Yoon about the reality of animal abuse in the dog meat industry structure. Kara said, "We want to ask Yoon if he has visited dog farms and slaughterhouses that sustain dog meat consumption? Are his remarks made after seeing the reality where several dogs are cramped in wire cages, skeletal dog carcasses lie on the floor, and dogs have to eat rotten food waste to survive?"

They continued, "Beatings are basic, and with electric slaughter causing extreme pain, screams, burning flesh, and the stench of blood fill the place daily. What does he mean by saying this is not abuse to animals who endure this every day? How can such animal abuse be tolerated in dogs existing on this earth?"

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, about 100 animal protection groups including the Korea Animal Protection Union and the Forum to Prevent Life Abuse will hold a joint press conference to condemn Yoon's remarks.

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