First Lady Kim Geon-hee Meets Dr. Gudal, Says "Efforts to End Dog Meat Consumption... Korean Society Is Progressing"

Meeting with World-Renowned Environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall at Yongsan Park
Shared Concerns Over Cruelty in Dog Meat Consumption... "Will Continue Efforts"

First Lady Kim Geon-hee met with primatologist and environmental activist Dr. Jane Goodall on the 7th to discuss sustainable coexistence with nature. In particular, First Lady Kim stated that "Korean society is moving toward the end of the dog meat consumption culture."

That afternoon, First Lady Kim and Dr. Goodall exchanged views on animal rights promotion and the issue of dog meat consumption at the Yongsan Library within the Yongsan Children's Garden in Seoul. They shared concerns about the cruel abuse inflicted for dog meat consumption, which also applies to other animals and threatens human dignity.

Dr. Goodall emphasized the need to respect cultural diversity while striving to end the abusive consumption culture involving dogs and other animals. In response, First Lady Kim promised, "I have been working toward this, am working on it now, and will continue to do so in the future."

President Yoon Suk-yeol's wife, First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and world-renowned primatologist and environmental activist Dr. Jane Goodall are seen walking on the 7th at Yongsan Children's Garden Yongsan Bookstore in Seoul, moving to the planned site of the Children's Environmental Ecology Education Center.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

They also exchanged opinions on economic growth and environmental protection. First Lady Kim said, "Humanity must place hope in Africa's future," adding, "Africa, which Dr. Goodall deeply cares about, can become a hope for humanity and a model for the future by pursuing economic and industrial development while simultaneously promoting ecosystem conservation and environmental protection." She further explained, "Global cooperation and support are necessary for eco-friendly development," and "Sharing Korea's experience of rapid growth and advanced technology, which Africa is highly interested in, can be an opportunity to accelerate the future Africa aims to achieve."

Dr. Goodall introduced First Lady Kim to a program she had promoted called 'Tacare.' She explained the case of promoting environmentally conscious development without reckless development or destruction of chimpanzee habitats by communicating with local residents. In response, First Lady Kim said, "Small daily practices are important for environmental protection," and presented Dr. Goodall with a commemorative 'Bye Bye Plastic' T-shirt made from recycled PET bottles. They also discussed the importance of education that informs people that animals are beings with emotions and sensibilities. First Lady Kim said she became interested in animal protection after learning about Dr. Goodall's various studies stating that "animals, like humans, are beings capable of feeling emotions."

Meanwhile, First Lady Kim recalled that Dr. Goodall had mentioned in her book The Reason for Hope that she likes Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, and played this piece at the meeting venue for Dr. Goodall. Taking the meeting as an opportunity, Dr. Goodall presented First Lady Kim with a handwritten message in the translated version of her newly published book The Book of Hope. The guestbook written by Dr. Goodall that day will be made into a bronze plaque and displayed in the future children's environment and ecology education center.

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