[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Nationwide animal protection organizations have voiced condemnation over Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, referring to the ‘Pet Support for Candidate Lee Jae-myung’ campaign as ‘conceptual posturing’.
On the 16th, 183 animal protection organizations across the country, including Gachibodeum, issued a statement saying, “Yesterday, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, disparaged and mocked the political participation of voters living with companion animals as ‘conceptual posturing.’ In response, citizens who love animals and animal rights groups strongly condemn Lee Jun-seok’s reckless remarks and demand an apology.”
They continued, “This presidential election is more than ever an election that concerns the lives of many animals,” explaining, “In our country, over one million dogs defined as companion animals under the Animal Protection Act are slaughtered annually, and promises to prevent and severely punish animal abuse, including cat abuse, have been announced one after another as major election pledges.”
They added, “As a global measure to overcome the climate crisis, the transition of livestock farming, which produces enormous methane gas, is being discussed concretely, and animal quarantine measures, including the protection and culling of wild animals due to COVID-19, are also consistently included in election pledges,” emphasizing, “Voters’ ballots directly affect the survival of many animals living on this land.”
Furthermore, they stated, “Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol mocked voters by posting a photo giving an apology to his pet dog Tori after his remarks defending former President Jeon Du-hwan in October last year, and during the primary TV debate, he poured cold water on the heated discussion to end dog meat consumption by saying ‘there are separate dogs for eating.’ Also, Jang Ye-chan, the head of the youth division ambitiously recruited by candidate Yoon, caused controversy by revealing past statements such as ‘I want to blow up the animal hospital on the first floor of the office’ and ‘I wish all animals on Earth except those for food would disappear,’ showing irrational hatred toward animals.”
They also pointed out, “Geonjin Beopsa, classified as a member of Yoon’s campaign, led a ritual where cowhide was skinned and offered as a sacrifice, with lanterns bearing the names of Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Gun-hee hanging at the event, stirring controversy. Now, even Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, is disparaging and mocking peaceful political participation by citizens who ask for good animal welfare pledges for animals as ‘conceptual posturing.’ How should the 15 million companion animal voter population understand the actions of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok?”
Finally, they declared, “We will never overlook Lee Jun-seok’s words and actions and declare that we will vote for candidates who promote policies for animals in the 20th presidential election,” adding, “We urge the People Power Party camp to come to their senses before it is too late and present animal welfare policies where humans and animals can coexist and humans, animals, and the environment can harmoniously coexist.”
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