President Moon: "Isn't it time to consider banning dog meat consumption?"
President Moon Jae-in is speaking at the Cabinet meeting held on the morning of the 28th in the Yeomin-gwan video conference room at the Blue House. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Jin-in (塵人) Jo Eun-san, who gained attention for writing the 'Seven Proposals' criticizing the Moon Jae-in administration's policies, directly questioned President Moon Jae-in on the 28th, asking, "Why now?" in response to his recent directive to review the ban on dog meat consumption.
On the same day, Jo Eun-san posted an article titled "Life is about timing, and so is politics" on his blog. He said, "President Moon, who once ordered the shutdown of nuclear power plants after watching the movie 'Pandora' and shedding tears," and added, "Now, moved perhaps by the seven Pungsan dogs gifted by Kim Jong-un, he suddenly ordered a review of the ban on dog meat consumption. Is his emotion really that abundant?"
He continued, "As someone who also really likes dogs, I don't particularly have any aversion, but one thing I want to ask is, why now?" He said, "Thanks to gathering bans due to COVID-19, self-employed people are still struggling between life and death. Several have already taken their own lives. Even if dog meat is considered a disgusting and shameful, barbaric culture, they are also our citizens and part of the suffering self-employed. Shouldn't a country's leader at least support them in such circumstances?"
He stated, "The dog meat industry has long been on the path to extinction. Government statistics show that the Bosintang (dog meat soup) sector is in significant decline, while the pet dog industry is growing as the number of pet owners increases," and added, "Why bring up an issue that would resolve itself, especially at a time when the survival of self-employed businesses is at stake?"
Jo Eun-san also criticized, "Before questioning the purity and flaws of the policy, it was already wrong from the timing. This administration has always been like that," and said, "Even when medical staff nationwide were trapped in protective suits due to the spread of COVID-19, they declared medical reform, causing a total doctors' strike. When vaccine supply was the most urgent issue, they caused chaos trying to negotiate with Yoon Seok-yeol, resulting in South Korea recording one of the lowest vaccination rates among OECD countries."
He added, "There have been cases where the same policy, but with even worse timing, received more criticism," and pointed out, "The North Korea policy, which drew more criticism with the absurd claim that peace economy would be realized through inter-Korean economic cooperation, came right in the middle of the trade dispute with Japan."
Furthermore, he said, "I am just a mere breadwinner and cannot know everything, and as one among many people, I cannot say everything. But one thing I can say for sure is," and sharpened his words, "'Life is about timing.' And this administration is terribly bad at timing."
Finally, Jo Eun-san said, "For the record, I don't eat dog meat. Do as you please. But know this one thing," and added, "Where dog meat disappears, human meat might be lying around."
Earlier, President Moon said the day before, "Isn't it time to carefully consider banning dog meat consumption?" According to Blue House spokesperson Park Kyung-mi, President Moon made this remark during a weekly meeting with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum at the Blue House, after receiving a report on improving the management system for abandoned companion animals.
Meanwhile, President Moon is known to keep companion dogs named Tori, Maru, and Gom-i at the presidential residence. He shares small daily moments, such as posting photos on social media whenever his dogs have puppies.
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